Examples of reluctant in a Sentence
94% of the butterflies are females, and they jostle for the attention of the few males, who seem reluctant suitors.
—
Carl Zimmer, Science, 11 May 2001
When I missed five in a row and was reluctant to take the next shot or didn't really follow through, my teammates would yell, "Brick!"
—Bill Bradley, New York Times, 18 Dec. 1994
The man swore sullenly. He went over to a corner and slowly began to put on his coat. He took his hat and went out, with a dragging, reluctant step.
—Stephen Crane, Maggie: A Girl of the Streets, 1893
The woman seemed desirous, yet reluctant, to speak, and answered, in low, mysterious tone.
—Harriet Beecher Stowe, Uncle Tom's Cabin, 1852
We were reluctant to get involved.
He might agree but seems reluctant to admit it.
Carl Zimmer, Science, 11 May 2001
When I missed five in a row and was reluctant to take the next shot or didn't really follow through, my teammates would yell, "Brick!"
—Bill Bradley, New York Times, 18 Dec. 1994
The man swore sullenly. He went over to a corner and slowly began to put on his coat. He took his hat and went out, with a dragging, reluctant step.
—Stephen Crane, Maggie: A Girl of the Streets, 1893
The woman seemed desirous, yet reluctant, to speak, and answered, in low, mysterious tone.
—Harriet Beecher Stowe, Uncle Tom's Cabin, 1852
We were reluctant to get involved.
He might agree but seems reluctant to admit it.
Recent Examples on the Web
Again, Gulutzan was reluctant to criticize his team too harshly given how close the series has been.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Giuffre was initially reluctant to cooperate with the FBI probe.
—Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
Employers are reluctant to hire people and workers are reluctant to leave their jobs—but that isn’t generating mass joblessness, according to recent notes from Piper Sandler, Jefferies, and Pantheon (which supplied the above chart).
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
Teams so far have been reluctant to part with 2027 picks because that class is seen as being a potentially exceptional one.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reluctant
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Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Giuffre was initially reluctant to cooperate with the FBI probe.
—Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
Employers are reluctant to hire people and workers are reluctant to leave their jobs—but that isn’t generating mass joblessness, according to recent notes from Piper Sandler, Jefferies, and Pantheon (which supplied the above chart).
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
Teams so far have been reluctant to part with 2027 picks because that class is seen as being a potentially exceptional one.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reluctant
Cite this Entry
“Reluctant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reluctant. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reluctant
adjective
re·luc·tant
ri-ˈlək-tənt 
: showing doubt or unwillingness
reluctant to answer
reluctantly
adverb
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