reluctantly

adverb

re·​luc·​tant·​ly ri-ˈlək-tənt-lē How to pronounce reluctantly (audio)
Synonyms of reluctantly
: in a reluctant manner : with aversion or hesitation
The quiet resolution in his voice penetrated her racing thoughts. Reluctantly she gave him a corner of her attention.Elizabeth George Speare
He is about to release 'Thriller,' and today he's agreed, reluctantly, to sit for the Rolling Stone cover.Gerri Hirshey
Kirsti had gone to bed reluctantly, complaining that she wanted to stay up with the others, that she was grownup enough, … that it wasn't fair.Lois Lowry

Examples of reluctantly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And when the agency threatened to force a recall, the company reluctantly issued its own, 18 days after the outbreak was announced. CNN Money, 14 June 2026 Sacks said the administration reluctantly issued the export controls, which required Anthropic to only allow US citizens access to Mythos and Fable. Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 13 June 2026 The homegrown drama stars Colm Feore (Landman)and Augur as a Woodland Cree tracker who reluctantly partners with a former city detective, played by Jason Barbeck, to search for the young girl, only to confront Canada’s cultural and historical divides. Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2026 After more than 25 years of reluctantly being the face of the franchise, the actress formerly known as Heather Donahue is prioritizing her image over a Blair Witch return. Glenn Garner, Deadline, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for reluctantly

Word History

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of reluctantly was in 1646

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Cite this Entry

“Reluctantly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reluctantly. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.

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