unsurely
- adverb
- /ʌnˈʃʊrli/
- Marie looked at Tony unsurely, her voice wavering as she asked for his opinion.
Examples
-
Cobb poses in his tux—proudly, unsurely.
Fiction book (1994) -
He chews the eraser for a beat, then begins to write, unsurely at first, then gradually.
Fiction book (1996) -
"Uh, yeah." Michael said unsurely.
Fiction book (1998) -
Marie, paling, looked unsurely at Tony.
Fiction book (2001) -
Reynolds peers unsurely at the tornado inside.
Fiction book (1994) -
She was holding her mother's arm, moving unsurely, as if caught off guard by the brightness of the day.
Fiction book (1998) -
He stands unsurely—does he knock?
Fiction book (1994) -
He walked unsurely across the room, glancing nervously at everyone around him.
-
As the interview began, she spoke unsurely, struggling to find the right words.
Synonyms
30
5.1
In a way that shows hesitation or not being sure
19
4.2
In a worried or uncomfortable way
14
3.2
In a slow, unsure way because of doubt
11
4.0
Act or speak in a way that shows you are not sure
4
3.8
In a way that shows you are not sure and have little confidence
3
7.4
In a slow, unsure way with pauses
1
6.1
In a slow, unsure way that shows doubt
1
7.4
In a slow, unsure way that shows little confidence
In a nervous way that shows little confidence
With an unsteady, unsure voice or movement that shows doubt
Speaks in a careful way that avoids a clear answer
Antonyms
How Certain
∞
1.0
36
2.9
30
5.1
14
3.2
11
4.0
4
3.8
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Unsurely is built from un- ('not') and sure ('certain'), with -ly to show it is about how something is done. So, unsurely means 'in a not certain or confident way'.