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reluctanceunwillingness or disinclination to do something

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: unwillingness or disinclination to do something

Pronunciation (IPA): /rɪˈlʌktəns/

Example Sentences

  • My cat's reluctance to take a bath is legendary in our neighborhood.
  • Despite his initial reluctance, he eventually agreed to give a speech.
  • There's a certain reluctance among students to wake up early for morning classes.

reluctance

NOUN

[/rɪˈlʌktəns/]

unwillingness or disinclination to do something

His reluctance is obvious as he slowly signs the resignation letter.
💡 Concept

His reluctance is obvious as he slowly signs the resignation letter.

Reluctance to dance means missing your chance!
🎵 Rhyme

Reluctance to dance means missing your chance!

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/rɪˈlʌktəns/
🇬🇧 UK/rɪˈlʌktəns/

🌳Etymology

Prefixre--
Rootluct
Suffix--ance

Origin

This word derives from Latin reluctari, formed from re- (again, back) and luctari (to struggle, to resist). The original sense of 'struggling against' or 'resisting' evolved into the meaning 'to show aversion' or 'to hesitate'.

Breakdown

re- (again, back) + luctari (to struggle, resist) → reluctari (to struggle against, to resist). The suffix -ance was later added to form the noun reluctance, denoting the quality or state of resisting or showing unwillingness.

🎵Rhyme

abundancedancechance
abundance
dance
chance

🔗Collocations

show reluctance
with reluctance
overcome reluctance
great reluctance
reluctance to change

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

My cat's reluctance to take a bath is legendary in our neighborhood.

Despite his initial reluctance, he eventually agreed to give a speech.

There's a certain reluctance among students to wake up early for morning classes.

His reluctance to admit he was wrong made the argument last for hours.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

hesitationunwillingnessresistancedisinclination

Antonyms

eagernesswillingnessenthusiasm

Related

reluctantreluctantlyhesitateresist

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