reluctance

reluctance — noun

1. the feeling of not wanting to do something, often shown by hesitation or delay w

1.nounB2
Definition

the feeling of not wanting to do something, often shown by hesitation or delay when the action feels unpleasant, difficult, or uncomfortable

Example

Roya showed great reluctance when her manager asked her to work on weekends.

adjective + reluctance: great reluctance

Theo finally signed up for the swimming class despite his initial reluctance.

preposition: despite + reluctance

Common collocations
  • great reluctance
  • initial reluctance
  • obvious reluctance
  • clear reluctance
  • show reluctance
  • express reluctance
  • overcome reluctance
  • with reluctance
  • reluctance to + verb
  • a note of reluctance
Synonyms
  • unwillingness

    the closest synonym; slightly more direct and less formal than reluctance

  • hesitancy

    focuses on being uncertain or slow to act, rather than actively not wanting to

  • resistance

    stronger and more active than reluctance; implies fighting or pushing back against something

  • disinclination

    more formal and less common; suggests a mild lack of enthusiasm rather than strong unwillingness

Antonyms
  • willingness

    the direct opposite — being ready and happy to do something

  • eagerness

    enthusiastic willingness, stronger than simple willingness

  • enthusiasm

    strong excitement and interest in doing something

Grammar Patterns

reluctance + to-infinitive

adjective + reluctance

with reluctance

Usage Note

Reluctance is an uncountable noun and is most commonly followed by a to-infinitive ('reluctance to do something'). The fixed phrase 'with reluctance' describes an action done unwillingly. Common adjective partners include 'great', 'clear', 'obvious', and 'initial'. Unlike 'resistance', which suggests active opposition or fighting back, reluctance implies a passive unwillingness — the person hesitates or delays but may eventually agree.

Common Mistakes

He felt a reluctance toward the new plan.
He felt reluctance about the new plan.
'reluctance' is followed by 'to' + infinitive or 'about' + noun/-ing, not 'toward.'
She agreed to help, but there was reluctance in her voice.
She agreed to help, but there was a note of reluctance in her voice.
'reluctance' is uncountable but the phrase 'a note of reluctance' is a common fixed expression.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Reluctance, unwillingness, hesitancy, resistance, and disinclination all describe a lack of desire to do something, but they differ in intensity and nuance. Unwillingness is the closest synonym — it directly means 'not wanting to' and feels slightly more straightforward and honest than reluctance. Hesitancy adds the idea of being uncertain or slow to decide; a person who hesitates may want to do the thing but is not sure when or how. Resistance implies active opposition, as if pushing back against pressure or force — it is stronger and more confrontational than reluctance. Disinclination is the mildest and most formal of the group; it suggests a gentle lack of enthusiasm rather than a strong refusal. For example, a student may show reluctance to take a difficult exam, feel hesitancy about which answer to choose, have a disinclination to study on a sunny weekend, and show resistance if a teacher forces them to stay after class. When you mean 'not wanting to do something but still possibly doing it,' reluctance is the most natural word; use resistance only when there is real pushback.

unwillingnesshesitancyresistance ↗disinclination

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • with reluctance
  • a note of reluctance
  • an air of reluctance
  • overcome one's reluctance
  • show reluctance
  • express reluctance
  • hide one's reluctance
  • initial reluctance

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Reluctance comes from the Latin verb 'reluctari', meaning 'to struggle against, to resist'. It was formed from 're-' (back, against) and 'luctari' (to struggle, to wrestle). The word entered English in the 1600s through French, originally carrying a stronger sense of physical resistance and fighting back. Over time the meaning softened from active struggle to a milder sense of being unwilling or hesitant. The adjective form 'reluctant' appeared a few decades before the noun, but both settled into their modern meanings by the 1800s.