reluctant

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reluctant" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who is unwilling or hesitant to do something. Example: "She was reluctant to accept the job offer because it required moving to a new city."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

However, declining real wages have made consumers reluctant to borrow, undermining efforts to increase consumer spending.

The Guardian - Business

Throughout our discussions, he portrayed himself as a man reluctant to stay with the group, and yet unwilling to risk any attempt to leave.

The Guardian

From air quality, to recycling and climate change, we see only slow, reluctant steps.

The Guardian - Opinion

Politicians have cottoned on to this in the abstract, but they are more reluctant to be drawn on where these houses should be.

The Guardian - Opinion

Yes Scotland believed those rare or reluctant voters – mostly poor, working class voters in marginalised communities, were heavily inclined to vote yes and would turn out in far higher numbers than a normal election.

The Guardian

As Madden explains, a combination of factors including the risk of deploying reporters to a far away country dealing with a mysterious deadly virus, meant editors were reluctant to cover the story.

The Guardian

Jane was very reluctant to explain how she worked – her favourite mantra was "photographers should neither be seen nor heard".

The Guardian - Arts

He said there were but he was reluctant to publish.

The Guardian

Peter Beresford, professor of social policy at Brunel University and chair of Shaping Our Lives: "Since the government seems to want to reduce spending on social care, it has been very reluctant to help inform people about it although it's been long known that the public has little understanding of social care.

The Guardian

Some think the nation-building projects of the nationalist parties may make them reluctant to pass new powers down the line.

The Guardian

Mohammed Dunoma, the chairman of the local parent-teachers association, says many villagers are now reluctant to allow their daughters to go to school.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "reluctant" with infinitives (e.g., "reluctant to go") to express the action being avoided. This provides a clear and concise structure.

Common error

Avoid using prepositions other than "to" after "reluctant" when indicating an action. Saying "reluctant of doing something" or "reluctant in doing something" is incorrect. Use "reluctant to do something" instead.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "reluctant" functions primarily to modify nouns or pronouns, describing a state of unwillingness or hesitation. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across various contexts, indicating its role in expressing subjective attitudes or behaviors. The examples show it describing people "reluctant to borrow" or institutions "reluctant to act".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "reluctant" is a versatile adjective used to describe a state of unwillingness or hesitation. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and frequently appears in various contexts, particularly in news and media. It is essential to use the correct preposition "to" when indicating an action and be mindful of the subtle differences between "reluctant" and synonyms like "hesitant" or "unwilling". The phrase is suitable for both formal and informal communication. Ensure that you have a subject that clearly is showing unwillingness for an action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unwilling

Direct synonym, indicating a lack of willingness.

hesitant

Implies pausing or delaying due to uncertainty or doubt.

disinclined

Suggests a mild aversion or lack of enthusiasm.

averse

Indicates a stronger feeling of opposition or dislike.

loath

Similar to unwilling but often implies a stronger feeling of repugnance.

opposed

Suggests active resistance or disagreement.

resistant

Indicates a tendency to withstand or fight against something.

unenthusiastic

Expresses a lack of excitement or interest.

apprehensive

Indicates anxiety or fear about something that might happen.

uneasy

Suggests a feeling of discomfort or anxiety.

FAQs

How can I use "reluctant" in a sentence?

You can use "reluctant" to describe someone's unwillingness or hesitation to do something. For example, "She was "reluctant to lend" him the money."

What are some synonyms for "reluctant"?

Synonyms for "reluctant" include "unwilling", "hesitant", "disinclined", and "loath". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "reluctant of" instead of "reluctant to"?

No, the correct preposition to use with "reluctant" when indicating an action is "to". Therefore, you should say "reluctant to do something" instead of "reluctant of doing something."

What's the difference between "reluctant" and "hesitant"?

"Reluctant" implies a degree of unwillingness, while "hesitant" suggests pausing or delaying due to uncertainty or doubt. "Reluctant" expresses a stronger feeling of opposition than "hesitant".