reluctant

/ɹɪˈlʌktənt/

reluctant

English Adj Top 11,922
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Definition

Not wanting to take some action; unwilling to do something.

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin reluctāns, present participle of reluctor (“to struggle against, oppose, resist”), from re- (“back”) + luctor (“to struggle”).

Example Sentences

  • "She was reluctant to lend him the money"
  • "Surprisingly, our new dog is a reluctant ball-retriever."
  • "They are reluctant to the inclusion of a necessity test, especially of a horizontal nature, and emphasize, instead, the importance of procedural disciplines [...]."
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