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hesitatingly

adverb

Definition of hesitatinglynext
as in hesitantly

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hesitatingly
  1. hesitantly
  2. questioningly
  3. incredulously
  4. quizzically
  5. doubtfully
Adverb
  • In the public imagination, Housewives with a capital H are fame-hungry attention hogs who would rather throw the $400 bottle of Château Brane-Cantenac Margaux that’s sitting in front of us than sip it, as Cosby is hesitantly doing now.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Diane refuses, but April hesitantly makes the trip, only to learn that Theo — an artistic dilettante who lives in the city with his girlfriend, Lucy (Odessa A’zion) — has been lunching with Sandra behind her back.
    — Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of hesitantly
Adverb
  • Espinoza responded, holding up his hands questioningly.
    — Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
  • Bundhorol motioned to the direction of camp questioningly, then in the opposite direction, out into the empty grass.
    — Samantha Falewée, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Sep. 2025
Definition of questioningly
Adverb
  • Gulliver incredulously witnesses people attempting to extract sunbeams from cucumbers and turn excrement back into edible food.
    — Dónal Gill, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Some people go so far as to repeat the nickname incredulously, or to make fun of it.
    — Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of incredulously
Adverb
  • Prosecutors put the photo up on a large screen in the courtroom, showing a bearded man in a black T-shirt in front of platters of food, glancing quizzically at the camera.
    — Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The pinniped pup looked around quizzically with large, black eyes before lumbering into the surf with abandon — as only the young can.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of quizzically
Adverb
  • But in this case, the story is very doubtfully true.
    — David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 May 2026
Definition of doubtfully
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.

Browse Nearby Words

hesitating
hesitatingly
hesitation
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Cite this Entry

“Hesitatingly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hesitatingly. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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