reluctant
Not wanting to do something.
reluctant in a sentence
- Priya was reluctant to leave the fair, dragging her feet all the way to the gate.
- The cat was reluctant to come in from the sunny windowsill, ignoring every single call.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to reluctant?
- Aeager
- Bkeen
- Centhusiastic
- Dunwilling
Show the answer
D: unwilling. The other three mean the opposite of reluctant.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to reluctant?
- Aeager
- Bunwilling
- Cslow
- Dhesitant
Show the answer
A: eager. The other three mean nearly the same as reluctant.
Words that mean something similar
unwilling, hesitant, slow
Words that mean the opposite
eager, keen, enthusiastic
Careful: reluctant is not scared
Scared is about fear. Reluctant is simply not wanting to. Read why children mix them up.
More words about emotions & feelings
- remorse: A deep feeling of sorrow for something wrong you have done.
- repent: To feel truly sorry for something wrong you have done.
- resent: To feel angry about something because it seems unfair.
- savour: To enjoy something slowly so the pleasure lasts as long as possible.
- scorn: A strong feeling that someone or something is useless and deserves no respect.
- seethe: To be so angry inside that you feel like you are boiling.
- serene: Calm, peaceful and untroubled.
- solemn: Very serious and not smiling.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test