reluctantly

adverb

re·​luc·​tant·​ly ri-ˈlək-tənt-lē How to pronounce reluctantly (audio)
Synonyms of reluctantlynext
: 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.
Ars Video In the movie, Michelle and Cosmo reluctantly join forces with a smuggler named Keats (Chris Pratt) and his wisecracking robot sidekick, Herman (Anthony Mackie). — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 15 Mar. 2025 Forced to enlist by the United States military, a young physician reluctantly cuts short his medical residency at New York’s Bellevue Hospital and ships out to a remote corner of Greenland. — Katie Hunt, CNN, 15 Mar. 2025 Oakey stared at the blank screen and seemingly sighed, and then reluctantly turned towards the window. — Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025 Amy Sedaris plays Nora, who reluctantly calls in after losing her job at a toy store. — Jeremy Beiler, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

reluctantly
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Cite this Entry

“Reluctantly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reluctantly. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on reluctantly

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for reluctantly

Nglish: Translation of reluctantly for Spanish Speakers

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