Home Synonyms reluctant

Synonyms of reluctant in English:

reluctant


See US English definition of reluctant

See UK English definition of reluctant

See Spanish definition of reacio

adjective

1‘she persuaded her reluctant parents to buy her a cat’

SYNONYMS
unwilling, disinclined, unenthusiastic, grudging, resistant, resisting, opposed, antipathetic
hesitant
ANTONYMS

willing, eager

2‘Hilary gave a reluctant smile’

SYNONYMS
shy, bashful, coy, retiring, diffident, reserved, restrained, withdrawn, shrinking, timid, timorous, sheepish, unconfident, insecure, unsure, suspicious, unassertive
apprehensive, fearful
rare costive
ANTONYMS

eager, ready

3‘the man was reluctant to leave’

SYNONYMS
loath, unwilling, disinclined, not in the mood, indisposed, sorry, averse, slow
chary of, not in favour of, against, opposed to
hesitant about, diffident about, bashful about, shy about, coy about
ashamed to, afraid to
ANTONYMS

willing, eager, ready