reluctant
/ɹɪˈlʌktənt/
Meanings
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adjective
Unwilling to act or change; resisting with difficulty; hesitant.
- "Despite her reluctant attitude, she finally agreed to help."
- "The student was reluctant to admit his mistake."
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adjective
Slow or unwilling to act or move.
- "The car moved reluctantly through the thick mud."
- "The elderly man walked reluctantly, using a cane."
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adjective
Resisting or opposing something; unwilling to comply.
- "The employees were reluctant to accept the new policy."
- "The suspect was reluctant to answer the officer's questions."
Pronunciation
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/ɹɪˈlʌktənt/
Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=332360"
Antonyms
greedy
Synonyms
disinclined , unwilling , refractory
Rhymes
Words rhyming with reluctantdissentient , present participle of dissentient , from French dissentir ‘disagree , oppose’. , resistant , present participle of resist
Variants
List of all variants of reluctant that leads to same resultreluctant
Forms
Different forms of the word (e.g., verb conjugations, plural forms, comparative/superlative forms for adjectives).The past tense of 'reluctant' is 'was/were reluctant'. The comparative form is 'more reluctant', and the superlative form is 'most reluctant'., The verb form is 'reluct'. For example: He reluctantly agreed to the proposal.
Etymology
origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.From Old French relutant, present participle of reluter ‘pick up again, renew, reconsider’, from re- ‘back’ + lutter ‘struggle’.
Trivia
Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word-
Did you know that 'reluctant' comes from the Old French word 'relutant', which means 'picking up again'?
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In chemistry, a 'reluctant ion' is a type of ion that is difficult to form or transfer due to its size or charge.
Related Concepts
informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to-
ambivalence: A feeling of uncertainty or mixed feelings towards a situation or person. 'Reluctant' and 'ambivalent' are related concepts as both involve hesitation or uncertainty.
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resistance: The act of opposing or refusing to comply with someone or something. 'Reluctant' and 'resistant' are related concepts as both involve unwillingness to act or comply.
Quotes
Quotes by authors and personalities-
The woman seemed desirous, yet "reluctant", to speak, and answered, in low, mysterious tone.
- Harriet Beecher Stowe,{it}Uncle Tom's Cabin{/it},1852 -
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,{it}Maggie: A Girl of the Streets{/it},1893 -
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,{it}New York Times{/it},18 Dec. 1994 -
94% of the butterflies are females, and they jostle for the attention of the few males, who seem "reluctant" suitors.
- Carl Zimmer,{it}Science{/it},11 May 2001
Culture
Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.In literature, the term 'reluctant' is often used to describe characters who are hesitant or resistant to change, such as Scrooge in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.
How to Memorize "reluctant"
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visualize
- Imagine a person hesitating or dragging their feet before taking action. Visualize this image whenever you come across the word 'reluctant'.
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associate
- Associate the word 'reluctant' with words like 'hesitant', 'hesitation', and 'resistance'. Use these words to help remember the meaning of 'reluctant'.
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mnemonics
- Create a mnemonic using the first letter of each definition: 'U' for unwilling, 'S' for slow, and 'H' for hesitant. Remember the word 'Reluctant' as 'Usually Hesitant'.
Memorize "reluctant" using Dictozo
The best and recommended way to memorize reluctant is, by using Dictozo. Just save the word in Dictozo extension and let the app handle the rest. It enhances the memorization process in two ways:
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Highlighting:
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Periodic Reminders:
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