| conflicting(hostile, unfriendly, antagonistic, contrary, incompatible) | |
| defiant(adjective, unwilling) | |
| demure(adjective, modest, humble, shy, hesitant) | |
| disliked | |
| evasive(adjective, difficult, awkward, forced, averse) | |
| faltering | |
| halting | |
| idle | |
| ill-disposed(adjective, difficult, awkward, hostile, hesitant) | |
| lackadaisical | |
| non-consenting(adjective, unwilling) | |
| not eager(expression, idiom) | |
| objecting(slow, shy, averse, unwilling) | |
| perverse(adjective, difficult, awkward, hostile, hesitant) | |
| protesting(slow, shy, averse, unwilling) | |
| prudent(adjective, cautious, suspicious, wary) | |
| queasy(adjective, unenthusiastic, unwilling, disinclined) | |
| repugnant(adjective, hostile, unfriendly, antagonistic, contrary) | |
| restrained(adjective, cautious, suspicious, wary) | |
| self-effacing(adjective, modest, humble, shy, hesitant) |
For more, visit
Reluctant on
Power Thesaurus
| 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> |