Hesitantly — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective adverb /ˈhe-zə-tənt/ hes·i·tant

Meaning & Definition of Hesitantly

Hesitantly (adjective)

  1. slow to act or proceed (as from fear, indecision, or unwillingness), tending to hesitate, showing or feeling reluctance or hesitation

Hesitantly (adverb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in incredulously, quizzically

    similar: hesitatingly, incredulously, questioningly, quizzically, unbelievingly, askance, distrustfully, doubtfully, doubtingly, dubiously, mistrustfully, sideways, skeptically, suspiciously, charily, guardedly, warily, captiously, critically, cynically, deprecatingly, disapprovingly, disparagingly, negatively, reproachfully, reproachingly, reprovingly, unfavorably, anxiously, apprehensively, uncomfortably, uneasily
    opposite: trustfully, trustingly, approvingly, favorably, positively, confidently, sanguinely, credulously, uncritically, unquestioningly

Related Entry: Hesitant (adjective)

Hesitant is a different word from Hesitantly. The synonyms below are for hesitant, not for hesitantly.

  1. slow to begin or proceed with a course of action because of doubts or uncertainty

    "he was hesitant about committing himself to the oversight of the project, which he knew would be long and difficult"

    similar: cagey, disinclined, dubious, indisposed, loath, reluctant, reticent
    related: uneager, unenthusiastic, averse, unwilling, ambivalent, conflicted, doubtful, faltering, halting, indecisive, infirm, irresolute, questioning, skeptical, uncertain, undecided, unsure, vacillating, wobbly, fainthearted, shy, timid
    opposite: disposed, inclined
    near: eager, enthusiastic, glad, happy, keen, ready, willing, certain, decided, determined, resolute, sure, unquestioning

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Hesitantly

The most common words with a similar meaning to Hesitantly:

hesitatingly, incredulously, questioningly, quizzically, unbelievingly, askance, distrustfully, doubtfully, doubtingly, dubiously, mistrustfully, sideways, skeptically, suspiciously, charily, guardedly, warily, captiously, critically, cynically, deprecatingly, disapprovingly, disparagingly, negatively, reproachfully, reproachingly, reprovingly, unfavorably, anxiously, apprehensively, uncomfortably, uneasily

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Hesitantly

Words with the opposite meaning of Hesitantly:

trustfully, trustingly, approvingly, favorably, positively, confidently, sanguinely, credulously, uncritically, unquestioningly

Word Forms of Hesitantly

Derived words: hesitantly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Hesitantly

First known use: 1647

Frequently Asked Questions about Hesitantly

What does "Hesitantly" mean?

"Hesitantly" means slow to act or proceed (as from fear, indecision, or unwillingness), tending to hesitate, showing or feeling reluctance or hesitation. As an an adjective and an adverb, it is defined as: slow to act or proceed (as from fear, indecision, or unwillingness), tending to hesitate, showing or feeling reluctance or hesitation.

What is another word for "Hesitantly"?

Other words for "Hesitantly" include hesitatingly, incredulously, questioningly, quizzically, unbelievingly, askance, distrustfully and doubtfully. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Hesitantly" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Hesitantly"?

There are 32 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Hesitantly". Common alternatives include hesitatingly, incredulously, questioningly, quizzically, unbelievingly, askance, distrustfully, doubtfully, doubtingly and dubiously.

What is the opposite of "Hesitantly"?

Antonyms of "Hesitantly" include trustfully, trustingly, approvingly, favorably, positively, confidently, sanguinely and credulously.

Is "Hesitantly" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Hesitantly" can be used as an adjective and an adverb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Hesitantly"?

"Hesitantly" is pronounced /ˈhe-zə-tənt/ and divided into syllables as hes·i·tant.

What is the origin of the word "Hesitantly"?

First known use: 1647.

What is another word for "Hesitantly" meaning "as in incredulously, quizzically"?

When "Hesitantly" (adverb) means as in incredulously, quizzically, synonyms include hesitatingly, incredulously, questioningly, quizzically, unbelievingly and askance. Opposites in this sense include trustfully, trustingly, approvingly and favorably.