reluctance

noun

re·​luc·​tance ri-ˈlək-tən(t)s How to pronounce reluctance (audio)
Synonyms of reluctance
1
: the quality or state of being reluctant
2
: the opposition offered in a magnetic circuit to magnetic flux
specifically : the ratio of the magnetic potential difference to the corresponding flux

Synonyms of reluctance

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Examples of reluctance in a Sentence

the mice showed an odd reluctance to eat the cheese we had put out for them
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But if his account of Pichai’s reluctance is accurate, an entire ocean may be one step too far for Google. — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026 Frustration is also growing over what is seen as Haitian authorities’ reluctance to get their house in order, from tackling corruption to fixing its judiciary. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026 Recent attempts to suppress Arab representation could either mobilize citizens who feel their remaining protections slipping away or deepen their reluctance to participate in an arena so visibly stacked against them. — Tamir Sorek, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026 Regulators also grade hospitals, and Husain said some of the reluctance to use less-than-perfect organs has long stemmed from concern about getting a lower score if even a few of them fail. — ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reluctance

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1628, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reluctance was circa 1628

Rhymes for reluctance

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Browse Nearby Words

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reluctance
reluctance cartridge
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Cite this Entry

“Reluctance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reluctance. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

reluctance

noun
re·​luc·​tance ri-ˈlək-tən(t)s How to pronounce reluctance (audio)
: the quality or state of being reluctant

More from Merriam-Webster on reluctance

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about reluctance

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