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hesitatingly

hesitatingly

1 6.1
In a slow, unsure way that shows doubt
  • adverb
  • /ˌhɛzɪˈteɪtɪŋli/
: titubeantemente
  • Hesitatingly, she asked in a quiet voice, "So what exactly happened to you?"
  • slowly and hesitatingly

Examples

  • Not that I didn't like it, I replied somewhat hesitatingly, but somehow it didn't sit well with me.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Finally, the professor shot his hand forward, and Boge shook it hesitatingly.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • " After all this time, prison has really gotten to him," he said hesitatingly.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • "And with whom?" Gregorio stopped hesitatingly and put his hand to his chin.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • These summer snows should last only a short time," responded the General hesitatingly.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Hesitatingly at first, but today with full commitment, they transformed from religious militants to religious peacemakers.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Moving in front of it, walking hesitatingly backwards, was a young man in a white shirt and trousers, waving his arms, trying to stop the tank.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Slowly, hesitatingly, he looked right at Rem and said something that chilled me to the deepest pit of my gut.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • DE FLORES waits patiently as BEATRICE moves hesitatingly towards him along the battlements.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • She answered the question hesitatingly, unsure of how to respond.

Synonyms

tentatively
vshesitatingly
27 5.1

In a way that shows hesitation or not being sure

expresses hesitation but focuses on action pause, not provisional status
hesitantly
vshesitatingly
10 3.2

In a slow, unsure way because of doubt

is the same in meaning but is the longer, less common adverb form
uncertainly
vshesitatingly
7 4.0

Act or speak in a way that shows you are not sure

shows visible hesitation or pausing rather than general lack of confidence
haltingly
vshesitatingly
3 7.4

In a slow, unsure way with pauses

shows hesitation generally rather than mainly expressed as pauses
diffidently
vshesitatingly
1 7.9

In a shy way that shows little confidence

expresses hesitation but not necessarily shyness or low assertiveness
falteringly
vshesitatingly
1 7.4

In a slow, unsure way that shows little confidence

shows hesitation without emphasising physical unsteadiness or trembling
unsurely
vshesitatingly
1 4.1

In a way that shows someone is not sure

shows hesitation in action rather than ongoing instability or unsteadiness
waveringly
vshesitatingly
1 7.5

With an unsteady, unsure voice or movement that shows doubt

indicates hesitation without implying shaky physical or emotional motion

Antonyms

33 2.9

In a way that shows a person is sure and not afraid

28 3.7

In a firm way that ends doubt and settles the matter

How Hesitant

reluctantly
71 3.7
tentatively
27 5.1
hesitatingly
1 6.1
promptly
93 2.1
unhesitantly
1 5.8

Surface Forms

hesitatingly positive

Morphology

hesitatingly = hesitating (transparent) = hesitate + ing + ly

Formed by adding the adverbial suffix '-ly' to 'hesitating'; the meaning is a straightforward manner adverb derived from the participle.

Etymology

Hesitatingly comes from the verb hesitate, which goes back to a Latin word haesitare meaning 'to stick'. So to do something hesitatingly is like being briefly 'stuck'—you pause or move slowly because you are unsure.