— reluctantly , adv.
/ri luk"teuhnt/ , adj.
1. unwilling; disinclined: a reluctant candidate.
2. struggling in opposition.
[ 1655-65; reluctant- (s. of reluctans ), prp. of reluctari. See RELUCT, -ANT ]
Syn. 1. RELUCTANT, LOATH, AVERSE describe disinclination toward something. RELUCTANT implies some sort of mental struggle, as between disinclination and sense of duty: reluctant to expel students. LOATH describes extreme disinclination: loath to part from a friend. AVERSE, used with to and a noun or a gerund, describes a long-held dislike or unwillingness, though not a particularly strong feeling: averse to an idea; averse to getting up early.
Ant. 1. willing.