as in hesitantly
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Recent Examples of haltingly
The game started to percolate here, but only haltingly.
—
Kansas City Star, 15 Feb. 2026
In O’Sullivan’s story these two come together, however haltingly at first, out of necessity for both just to go on and find a semblance of their lives without Callie.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
Fiona’s neighbors get their own thin plots, broadening but not deepening the world of a show that moves haltingly towards a cliffhanger in its scant, 7-episode first season and so presumably means to continue.
—Judy Berman, Time, 4 Dec. 2025
That test soon divides matter, even for a far from sensitive ear, into what reads well & what reads tamely, haltingly, jerkily, lopsidedly, top-heavily, or otherwise badly.
—Ben Yagoda, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
As the world lost its CO2 blanket over this age of mammals, though, and the world chilled, grasslands, having invented a new form of photosynthesis adapted to this drier, lower-CO2 world, haltingly but inexorably took over much of the Earth.
—Peter Brannen, Big Think, 28 Aug. 2025
It’s haltingly played, like a child plucking out the notes, to emphasize John’s deep connection to his daughter.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2025
Kansas City Star, 15 Feb. 2026
In O’Sullivan’s story these two come together, however haltingly at first, out of necessity for both just to go on and find a semblance of their lives without Callie.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
Fiona’s neighbors get their own thin plots, broadening but not deepening the world of a show that moves haltingly towards a cliffhanger in its scant, 7-episode first season and so presumably means to continue.
—Judy Berman, Time, 4 Dec. 2025
That test soon divides matter, even for a far from sensitive ear, into what reads well & what reads tamely, haltingly, jerkily, lopsidedly, top-heavily, or otherwise badly.
—Ben Yagoda, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
As the world lost its CO2 blanket over this age of mammals, though, and the world chilled, grasslands, having invented a new form of photosynthesis adapted to this drier, lower-CO2 world, haltingly but inexorably took over much of the Earth.
—Peter Brannen, Big Think, 28 Aug. 2025
It’s haltingly played, like a child plucking out the notes, to emphasize John’s deep connection to his daughter.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for haltingly
Adverb
-
Only the bravest walked hesitantly toward the well.—
Mery Mogollón,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2026
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The show has dipped its toe hesitantly into matters of equity and social stratification this season with mixed results.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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In one picture, a slim teen-ager reaches over tentatively, tenderly, to peel a bandage off another boy’s bare thigh, a moment both touching and wonderfully matter-of-fact.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
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The lawsuit was filed in April 2024 and is tentatively set for trial in May 2026.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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As the crisis drags on, life is slowly grinding to a halt across this island of nearly 10 million people.—
Patrick Oppmann,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
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Scientists believe the geology of Mars may hold valuable clues about past ancient life, and so the robotic vehicles, controlled remotely from Earth, have slowly navigated the rocky terrain to scoop up and collect intriguing samples.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Haltingly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/haltingly. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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