reluctant to avoid

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reluctant to avoid" is not correct in standard English usage.
It suggests a contradiction, as being reluctant implies a hesitance to do something, while "to avoid" indicates a desire to not engage in that action. Example: "She was reluctant to avoid the confrontation, feeling it was necessary to address the issue directly."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Some intensivists might be reluctant to avoid CXRs in these situations because it might be a piece of evidence in case of litigation.

Annals of Intensive Care

Tameness is defined as increased interaction of an animal with humans, and is 'a measure of the extent to which an individual is reluctant to avoid or motivated to approach humans' (Price 2002).

Genes, Brain and Behavior

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In order for this concentrated force to be able to bring its power to bear on a reluctant opponent (or to avoid an encounter with a stronger enemy fleet), battlefleets needed some means of locating enemy ships beyond horizon range.

Wikipedia

Workers who are aware of workplace hazards may be reluctant to act to avoid or limit exposures for fear of victimisation or job loss [ 25].

BMC Medical Ethics

While many of these same measures have been included in previous United Nations resolutions, nations like China and Russia were reluctant to enforce them to avoid antagonizing the North.

The New York Times

President Clinton's endorsement of Mr. Kohler was depicted in Washington as a reluctant move principally intended to avoid further strains with Germany.

The New York Times

That would enable reluctant reformers from both parties to avoid politically difficult votes and appease the banking lobby, but it would not serve the public interest.

The New York Times

Firm with greater EO tend to edge take risk, innovate and act proactively, while conservative firms prefer to avoid risk, reluctant to innovate, and act reactively (Lumpkin, Cogliser, & Schenider, 2009).

Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research

If the workload hypothesis has some empirical relevance, then we should see a stronger relationship between absenteeism and unemployment in firms just below the 15-threshold (more reluctant to hire new employees to avoid to reach the threshold) than in very small firms.

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

Victims are often reluctant to seek medical attention to avoid delays.

Huffington Post

General practitioners found the tool difficult to introduce into the workflow of the consultation and were reluctant to use the tool to avoid revealing potentially confronting information about cancer risks.

British Journal of Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "reluctant to avoid" with a more direct expression of the intended meaning. For example, if someone is hesitant to skip a meeting, say "reluctant to skip the meeting" rather than "reluctant to avoid skipping the meeting."

Common error

Avoid using double negatives or contradictory expressions. "Reluctant to avoid" can often be simplified to a more positive statement. For instance, instead of saying "They were reluctant to avoid the topic," try "They preferred to discuss the topic."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reluctant to avoid" is a non-idiomatic expression that combines seemingly contradictory elements. It suggests a hesitancy toward taking an action of avoidance. As Ludwig AI points out, this construction is not considered standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "reluctant to avoid" is an uncommon and somewhat contradictory expression in English. As Ludwig AI states, it's not considered standard usage. While the few examples suggest its presence in diverse contexts like science, news, and wikis, it's generally advisable to opt for clearer and more direct alternatives, such as "hesitant to evade" or "unwilling to shun", to ensure effective communication. Using more precise language enhances clarity across various forms of writing and speech.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hesitant to evade

Emphasizes a pause or uncertainty before sidestepping something.

unwilling to shun

Highlights a disinclination to completely reject or ignore something.

loath to prevent

Expresses an aversion towards stopping something from happening.

disinclined to circumvent

Suggests a lack of motivation to find a way around something.

averse to averting

Focuses on a strong dislike of turning something away.

resistant to escaping

Highlights opposition to the act of getting free from something.

opposed to dodging

Implies a disagreement with the act of avoiding a responsibility or duty.

slow to preclude

Suggests a deliberate delay in preventing something from occurring.

cautious of precluding

Emphasizes carefulness in preventing an action.

guarded about evading

Suggests a certain level of secrecy or protection when avoiding

FAQs

What does "reluctant to avoid" mean?

The phrase "reluctant to avoid" is not a standard English expression and can be confusing. It suggests a hesitance about not doing something. It's better to rephrase for clarity, such as by saying someone "preferred to address" a topic instead of being "reluctant to avoid" it.

How can I rephrase "reluctant to avoid" for better clarity?

Instead of using "reluctant to avoid", try expressing the intended meaning directly. For example, if someone is "hesitant to evade" a question, it implies they are inclined to answer it.

Is it grammatically correct to say "reluctant to avoid"?

Grammatically, "reluctant to avoid" is awkward because it combines a sense of unwillingness with an action meant to prevent something. While understandable, it's better to use clearer alternatives like "unwilling to shun" or "inclined toward"."

When is it appropriate to use "reluctant to avoid"?

Given that the expression is non-idiomatic, it would only be appropriate when expressing the precise meaning of a hesitance about taking evasive action. However, in most cases, a clearer phrasing is recommended to avoid confusion. Consider alternative phrases like "loath to prevent" or "disinclined to circumvent".