reluctance
Unwillingness to proceed
Reluctance is unwillingness or hesitation to do something.
The word implies internal resistance rather than outright refusal—you might comply despite your reluctance: She agreed with obvious reluctance, I sensed his reluctance to discuss the matter.
In physics, reluctance is a property of magnetic circuits analogous to electrical resistance.
Disinclination to act
- disinclinationLack of desire
- distasteMild aversion or dislike
- repugnanceIntense distaste or disgust
- antipathyIngrained, intense aversion
disfavor · disrelish · disaffection · indisposition · objection · recoil · shrinking · squeamishness
Careful attention to risk
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- misgivingUneasy feeling of doubt
- reserveSupply kept back
- guardednessDefensive emotional reserve
circumspection · trepidation · unease · nervousness · qualm · concern · reticence · caginess
Temporary cessation of activity
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- indecisionFailure to decide
- tentativenessState of being uncertain
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
delay · vacillation · stalling · procrastination · dithering · faltering · second thoughts · foot-dragging
Disposition toward doubt
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
- misgivingsFeelings of doubt
- ambivalenceConflicting emotions coexisting
- distrustAbsence of confidence
dubiousness · questioning · reservations · incredulity · suspicion · cynicism · qualms
Active resistance or dissent
- defianceOpen resistance to authority
- obstructionSomething blocking the way
- noncomplianceFailure to follow requirements
- refusalAct of declining
pushback · recalcitrance · stubbornness · intransigence · obstructionism · foot-dragging · stonewalling · uncooperativeness
unwillingness
Disinclination to act
- disinclinationLack of desire
- distasteMild aversion or dislike
- repugnanceIntense distaste or disgust
antipathy · disfavor · disrelish · disaffection · indisposition · objection · recoil · shrinking · squeamishness
caution
Careful attention to risk
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- misgivingUneasy feeling of doubt
- reserveSupply kept back
guardedness · circumspection · trepidation · unease · nervousness · qualm · concern · reticence · caginess · diffidence
pause
Temporary cessation of activity
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- indecisionFailure to decide
- tentativenessState of being uncertain
uncertainty · delay · vacillation · stalling · procrastination · dithering · faltering · second thoughts · foot-dragging · hedging
skepticism
Disposition toward doubt
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
- misgivingsFeelings of doubt
- ambivalenceConflicting emotions coexisting
distrust · dubiousness · questioning · reservations · incredulity · suspicion · cynicism · qualms
opposition
Active resistance or dissent
- defianceOpen resistance to authority
- obstructionSomething blocking the way
- noncomplianceFailure to follow requirements
refusal · pushback · recalcitrance · stubbornness · intransigence · obstructionism · foot-dragging · stonewalling · uncooperativeness
- reluctanceunwillingness, disinclination, hesitation, reticence, reservations
- timiditybashfulness, shyness, timidness, timorousness, meekness
- aversionsaversion, dislike, distaste, hatred, loathing
- second thoughtssecond thoughts, reconsideration, rethinking, change of mind, change of heart
- magnetismmagnet, magnetic field, magnetic fields, magnetic poles, ferromagnetism
- magnetic circuitsmagnetic core, air gap, magnetic flux, yoke, iron core
reluctancewillingness
Openness to act
readiness · inclination · disposition · openness · receptiveness
- reluctant heroOne who resists their calling
- reluctant readerPerson disinclined toward books
- reluctant witnessUnwilling person who testifies
- reluctant dragonUnwilling fierce creature