haltingly

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of haltingly States have since haltingly rolled out standards for history education, but after 30 years of reform, students’ performance on history exams has slightly declined—just 14 percent are rated proficient. Yoni Appelbaum, The Atlantic, 8 June 2026 Root listens intently and then responds, initially haltingly. James Wallace, New York Times, 22 May 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for haltingly
Adverb
  • The many attending assistants around her eventually disperse — a little hesitantly because Sam is in the middle of preparing a new show — and the two withdraw to Sam’s cavernous studio.
    Jake Coyle, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Only the bravest walked hesitantly toward the well.
    Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2026
Adverb
  • After nine days on strike, workers at Philadelphia's largest unionized hotel have tentatively agreed to a new contract.
    Laura Fay, CBS News, 29 June 2026
  • The Obamas and their Higher Ground Productions have tentatively waded into the world of Hollywood with TV and movies, mostly documentaries and children's shows.
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 26 June 2026
Adverb
  • Bell’s letter to James and New York MFCU Director Amy Held argues that the unit is moving too slowly on cases and amassing too few indictments and convictions for wrongdoing in the Medicaid system.
    Ali Swenson, Fortune, 2 July 2026
  • Manganese atoms slowly take the place of some iron, creating a uniform LMFP structure.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 2 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Haltingly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/haltingly. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster