Origin: 1655–65; < Latin reluctant- (stem of reluctāns), present participle of reluctārī.See reluct, -ant
Related forms
re·luc·tant·ly, adverb
half-re·luc·tant, adjective
half-re·luc·tant·ly, adverb
un·re·luc·tant, adjective
un·re·luc·tant·ly, adverb
Can be confused:1. reluctant, reticent (see synonym note at the current entry); 2. reticent, reluctant.
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.