Synonyms for reluctance
Most common
All synonyms
Noun
Definitions
- n. 1
Unwillingness to do something.
Our new dog shows reluctance to go on walks, preferring to be indoors.
Related words
- Word family
- reluctant reluctantly
Forms
- Plural
- reluctances → disinclinations, unwillingnesses, hesitancies, aversions…
Choose the right word
Reluctance and repugnance denote a mental strife or hostility something proposed (repugnance being the stronger); as, a reluctance to make the necessary sacrifices, and a repugnance to the submission required.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Example sentences
- aversion I developed an aversion toward the word "awesome".
- unwillingness The greatest difficulty of all is the unwillingness.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| reluctance | steady | |
| aversion | rising | |
| unwillingness | steady | |
| hesitancy | steady | |
| disinclination | falling |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 7 letters
- dislike2, scruple2
- 8 letters
- aversion3
- 9 letters
- hesitancy4
- 10 letters
- hesitation4, repugnance
- 12 letters
- backwardness3
- 13 letters
- unwillingness4, indisposition
- 14 letters
- disinclination5
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (dislike2 = 2 syllables).