as in hesitantly
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Recent Examples of reluctantly
In Season 3 of The White Lotus, which recently earned Goggins his first Golden Globe nomination, his troubled traveler Rick reluctantly has dinner with Gries’ Gary after their significant others Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) and Chloe (Charlotte Le Bon) strike up a friendship.
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Glenn Garner, Deadline, 31 Dec. 2025
Lindo plays Delta Slim, a boozy blues musician who reluctantly agrees to play at the twins new juke joint.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 30 Dec. 2025
Mikkelsen portrayed Galen Erso, a scientist who reluctantly helps construct the Death Star — and intentionally embeds a hidden weakness in the space station's foundation that eventually helps the Rebel Alliance blow the planet-destroying behemoth to smithereens.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Dec. 2025
The Holdovers Set in 1970s New England, The Holdovers follows a cranky prep school teacher (Paul Giamatti) who reluctantly supervises students stuck on campus over Christmas break.
—Lydia Price, PEOPLE, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reluctantly
Glenn Garner, Deadline, 31 Dec. 2025
Lindo plays Delta Slim, a boozy blues musician who reluctantly agrees to play at the twins new juke joint.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 30 Dec. 2025
Mikkelsen portrayed Galen Erso, a scientist who reluctantly helps construct the Death Star — and intentionally embeds a hidden weakness in the space station's foundation that eventually helps the Rebel Alliance blow the planet-destroying behemoth to smithereens.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Dec. 2025
The Holdovers Set in 1970s New England, The Holdovers follows a cranky prep school teacher (Paul Giamatti) who reluctantly supervises students stuck on campus over Christmas break.
—Lydia Price, PEOPLE, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reluctantly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reluctantly
Adverb
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As Garfield hesitantly moves forward with his campaign, he is forced to align with Chester Arthur (Nick Offerman), who unexpectedly becomes his running mate, and with the domineering but highly influential Senator Roscoe Conkling (Shea Whigham).—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
6 Nov. 2025
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His crossing has often been a source of frustration, sometimes ballooning the ball too often, taking too long to put it into the area or cutting back on himself hesitantly.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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The narrative follows Kim Phúc into adulthood—her education, religious awakening, defection to Canada, and, by taking ownership of the photograph in which she was unwillingly portrayed, her eventual emergence as a humanitarian advocate for child victims of conflict.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Dec. 2025
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Reeves is a cranky, deadpanning Estragon, wallowing in frustration as his gangly limbs swing, unwillingly turning to his friend but also welcoming the help, the hugs.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Reluctantly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reluctantly. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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