| discouraged(adjective, unenthusiastic, unwilling, disinclined) | |
| guarded(adjective, delicate, careful, cautious, suspicious) | |
| indolent | |
| languid | |
| obstinate(adjective, unwilling) | |
| rebellious | |
| reserved(adjective, modest, humble, shy, hesitant) | |
| restive | |
| retiring(adjective, modest, humble, shy, hesitant) | |
| sluggish | |
| undecided(uncertain, doubtful, hesitant, cautious, unsure) | |
| noncooperative(adjective, unwilling) | |
| against the grain(expression, adjective, idiom, forced, averse) | |
| ambiguous | |
| apathetic(adjective, quiet, moderate, easy, slow) | |
| balking(slow, shy, averse, unwilling) | |
| blind(forced, unwilling, obligatory, compulsory) | |
| bygone | |
| cagey(adjective, cautious, suspicious, wary) | |
| compelled(adjective, difficult, awkward, forced, averse) |
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| APA | Smart Define. (2016). reluctant thesaurus. Retrieved September 27, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/reluctant/thesaurus/synonyms |
| Chicago | Smart Define. 2016. "reluctant thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/reluctant/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 27, 2026). |
| Harvard | Smart Define 2016, reluctant thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 27 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/reluctant/thesaurus/synonyms>. |
| MLA | Smart Define. "reluctant thesaurus" 9 March 2016. Web. 27 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/reluctant/thesaurus/synonyms> |