reluctant - Definitions from Dictionary.com

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

re·luc·tant

Audio Help [ri-luhk-tuh

nt] Pronunciation Key

–adjective

1.	unwilling; disinclined: a reluctant candidate.

2.	struggling in opposition.

[Origin: 1655–65; < L reluctant- (s. of reluctāns), prp. of reluctārī. See reluct, -ant

]

—Related forms

re·luc·tant·ly, adverb

—Synonyms 1. Reluctant, loath, averse describe disinclination toward something. Reluctant implies some sort of mental struggle, as between disinclination and sense of duty: reluctant to expel students. Loath describes extreme disinclination: loath to part from a friend. Averse, used with to and a noun or a gerund, describes a long-held dislike or unwillingness, though not a particularly strong feeling: averse to an idea; averse to getting up early.

—Antonyms 1. willing.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
reluctant

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

re·luc·tant Audio Help (rĭ-lŭk'tənt) Pronunciation Key
adj.

Unwilling; disinclined: reluctant to help.
Exhibiting or marked by unwillingness: a reluctant smile.
Offering resistance; opposing.

[Latin reluctāns, reluctant-, present participle of reluctārī, to reluct; see reluct.]

re·luc'tant·ly adv.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

reluctant
adjective
1.	unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom; "a reluctant smile"; "loath to admit a mistake" [syn: loath]
2.	disinclined to become involved; "they were usually reluctant to socialize"; "reluctant to help"
3.	not eager; "foreigners stubbornly reluctant to accept our ways"; "fresh from college and reluctant for the moment to marry him"

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
reluctant [rəˈlaktənt] adjective

unwilling
Example: He was reluctant to accept the medal for his bravery.

Arabic:	مُمانِع، غَيْر راغِب
Chinese (Simplified):	不愿意的
Chinese (Traditional):	不願意的
Czech:	zdráhavý
Danish:	uvillig
Dutch:	onwillig
Estonian:	tõrges
Finnish:	vastahakoinen
French:	peu disposé à
German:	widerstrebend
Greek:	διστακτικός, απρόθυμος
Hungarian:	vonakodó
Icelandic:	tregur, ófús
Indonesian:	enggan
Italian:	riluttante

Japanese:	いやいやの
Korean:	내키지 않는, 꺼리는
Latvian:	Viņš nevēlējās.
Lithuanian:	nenorintis
Norwegian:	mot-, *uvillig, nølende
Polish:	niechętny
Portuguese (Brazil):	relutante
Portuguese (Portugal):	relutante
Romanian:	şovăitor, ezitant
Russian:	неохотный
Slovak:	zdráhavý, neochotný
Slovenian:	nenaklonjen
Spanish:	renuente, reacio
Swedish:	ovillig, motvillig
Turkish:	isteksiz, gönülsüz

See also: reluctance

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Reluctant

A*verse"\, a. [L. aversus, p. p. of avertere. See Avert.]

1. Turned away or backward. [Obs.]

The tracks averse a lying notice gave, And led the searcher backward from the cave. --Dryden.

2. Having a repugnance or opposition of mind; disliking; disinclined; unwilling; reluctant.

Averse alike to flatter, or offend. --Pope.

Men who were averse to the life of camps. --Macaulay.

Pass by securely as men averse from war. --Micah ii. 8.

Note: The prevailing usage now is to employ to after averse and its derivatives rather than from, as was formerly the usage. In this the word is in agreement with its kindred terms, hatred, dislike, dissimilar, contrary, repugnant, etc., expressing a relation or an affection of the mind to an object.

Syn: Averse, Reluctant, Adverse.

Usage: Averse expresses an habitual, though not of necessity a very strong, dislike; as, averse to active pursuits; averse to study. Reluctant, a term of the of the will, implies an internal struggle as to making some sacrifice of interest or feeling; as, reluctant to yield; reluctant to make the necessary arrangements; a reluctant will or consent. Adverse denotes active opposition or hostility; as, adverse interests; adverse feelings, plans, or movements; the adverse party.

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