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Definition of reluctantly

reluctantly

/rɪˈlʌk.tənt.li/
re · luc · tant · ly
Adjective:reluctant
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reluctantly Lexical Profile

reluctantly Game Scores & Validity

• adverb

1

In an unwilling, hesitant, or disinclined manner; with reservations or resistance.

Example

"After hours of negotiation, the committee reluctantly agreed to postpone the festival until the following spring."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for reluctantly
Antonyms
View all antonyms for reluctantly

• Nearby Words

relook
reluctance
reluctant
reluctantly
rely
remail
remain

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in English from the adjective 'reluctant' plus the adverbial suffix '-ly'. The base word derives from the Latin 'reluctari', meaning 'to struggle against' or 'to resist'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Reluctantly. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/reluctantly
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