reluctantly
Against one's wishes
Reluctantly means with hesitation or unwillingness.
Someone who acts reluctantly does so despite reservations: She reluctantly agreed to help.
The word signals internal resistance—you comply, but not happily: He reluctantly admitted he was wrong.
Opposed to participating
- loathStrongly reluctant
- disinclinedAverse to acting
- unenthusiasticWithout eagerness or passion
- half-heartedLacking sincerity or zeal
lukewarm · tepid · dreading · recoiling · shrinking · cringing · wincing · flinching
Made to occur unwillingly
- compelledMade to act
- obligatedRequired by duty
- pressuredUrged with insistence
- coercedPressured into compliance
imposed · mandated · required · duty-bound · arm-twisted · cornered · trapped · involuntary
Bending under pressure
- surrenderingCeasing to resist
- concedingAcknowledging another's claim
- capitulatingCeasing to resist
- acquiescingConsenting without protest
accepting · submitting · relenting · caving · bowing · deferring · settling · sighing
Slow to act
- waverHesitate or fluctuate
- pauseTemporary cessation of activity
- tentativeUncertain and provisional
- falterLose momentum or steadiness
dither · vacillate · indecision · uncertainty · doubt · second-guess · equivocate · stall
unwilling
Opposed to participating
- loathStrongly reluctant
- disinclinedAverse to acting
- unenthusiasticWithout eagerness or passion
half-hearted · lukewarm · tepid · dreading · recoiling · shrinking · cringing · wincing · flinching · avoiding
forced
Made to occur unwillingly
coerced · imposed · mandated · required · duty-bound · arm-twisted · cornered · trapped · involuntary · conscripted
yielding
Bending under pressure
- surrenderingCeasing to resist
- concedingAcknowledging another's claim
- capitulatingCeasing to resist
acquiescing · accepting · submitting · relenting · caving · bowing · deferring · settling · sighing · shrugging
hesitant
Slow to act
falter · dither · vacillate · indecision · uncertainty · doubt · second-guess · equivocate · stall · deliberate
defiant
Openly resisting control
dissent · noncompliance · recalcitrant · obstinate · balk · refuse · pushback · stubborn · contrary · uncooperative
reluctantlyeagerly
With keen enthusiasm
willingly · gladly · enthusiastically · readily · freely
reluctantlyjoyfully
With great pleasure
delightedly · cheerfully · gleefully · exuberantly · with pleasure
- reluctant heroOne who resists their calling
- reluctant readerPerson disinclined toward books
- reluctant witnessUnwilling person who testifies
- reluctant dragonUnwilling fierce creature