reluctantly
adverb
re·luc·tant·ly
ri-ˈlək-tənt-lē 
: 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
Elizabeth George SpeareHe is about to release 'Thriller,' and today he's agreed, reluctantly, to sit for the Rolling Stone cover.—Gerri Hirshey
Gerri HirsheyKirsti 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
Lois LowryExamples of reluctantly in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Though Garfield is attending the RNC reluctantly to give a speech in support of his friend, Congressman James Blaine (Bradley Whitford), for the presidency, his rousing oration inadvertently earns him the nomination.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025
Trump supporters despised him, while some Democrats embraced him — if reluctantly — and still many others would always condemn him as a war criminal for his role in Iraq.
—Don Gonyea, NPR, 4 Nov. 2025
Meanwhile, Tyra Banks — more than three decades after her original, unrelated role in Fresh Prince — plays a former college classmate with a big personality, with whom Viv is reluctantly reunited.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2025
This week, faced with the prospect of losing SNAP assistance and the stress of the holidays around the corner, Gabrielle, a West Virginia resident, reluctantly raised her hand in a community Facebook group.
—Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
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Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025
Trump supporters despised him, while some Democrats embraced him — if reluctantly — and still many others would always condemn him as a war criminal for his role in Iraq.
—Don Gonyea, NPR, 4 Nov. 2025
Meanwhile, Tyra Banks — more than three decades after her original, unrelated role in Fresh Prince — plays a former college classmate with a big personality, with whom Viv is reluctantly reunited.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2025
This week, faced with the prospect of losing SNAP assistance and the stress of the holidays around the corner, Gabrielle, a West Virginia resident, reluctantly raised her hand in a community Facebook group.
—Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reluctantly
Cite this Entry
“Reluctantly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reluctantly. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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