reluctant

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Fierce negotiations are expected between the European Parliament and member states, especially over where to find extra money that governments are reluctant to chip in.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

Adams was reluctant to categorize his sensibility, but he acknowledged that he gravitated toward plays “that have some invitation for design innovation while being centered on human beings.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

Firms have been slow to hire but reluctant to fire.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

The recent single 2Sided depicts a night where Parks was reluctant to leave the house; only finding motivation in the chance she'd bump into her crush.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

But a lot of the evacuees were simply reluctant to come back to towns where pockets of radiation might remain.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland