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
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But both are good at solving crimes, and here in season 2, Eddie is reluctantly stuck in her hometown when an arm turns up in the mouth of a dead alligator, and many more body parts arrive over time.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
The sardonic clip sees Ford reluctantly trade in his signature leather jacket for a kilt and valiantly plug Glenmorangie while standing atop a hill.
—Marissa G. Muller, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
Milan are reluctantly having to contemplate it instead.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 12 May 2026
Deborah pecks her before reluctantly giving in to more passionate smooches.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for reluctantly
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Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
The sardonic clip sees Ford reluctantly trade in his signature leather jacket for a kilt and valiantly plug Glenmorangie while standing atop a hill.
—Marissa G. Muller, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026
Milan are reluctantly having to contemplate it instead.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 12 May 2026
Deborah pecks her before reluctantly giving in to more passionate smooches.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for reluctantly
Cite this Entry
“Reluctantly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reluctantly. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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