haltingly

adverb

as in hesitantly

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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 The revolutionary idea that the ruled rather than the rulers decide the rules emerged only haltingly. — Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026 The department exists to preserve some semblance of equal justice in the United States — imperfectly, haltingly, often overbearingly for some and cautiously for others — and help ensure that the nation is governed by the rule of law. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026 In Vietnamese director Lê Bảo’s new film, an extended family confronts various rifts and estrangements in its ranks; years of silence must give way, slowly and haltingly, to communication. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026 Law-enforcement officials in Minnesota are—albeit haltingly—beginning to move forward with investigations and prosecutions on their own. — Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 6 July 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for haltingly
  1. hesitantly
  2. tentatively
  3. slowly
Adverb
  • In the public imagination, Housewives with a capital H are fame-hungry attention hogs who would rather throw the $400 bottle of Château Brane-Cantenac Margaux that’s sitting in front of us than sip it, as Cosby is hesitantly doing now.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Diane refuses, but April hesitantly makes the trip, only to learn that Theo — an artistic dilettante who lives in the city with his girlfriend, Lucy (Odessa A’zion) — has been lunching with Sandra behind her back.
    — Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of hesitantly
Adverb
  • By then, the officer had gathered enough information to tentatively identify him and found a 2008 Ford Escape registered to his name in Michigan.
    — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The opening day of the trial is expected to deal with jury selection, with opening arguments from both the prosecution and defense tentatively scheduled for Wednesday.
    — K.J. Yossman, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of tentatively
Adverb
  • What changed second, more slowly, was trust, which had to be built one decision at a time.
    — Ken Paskins, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The company said a self-copying AI built on small models would spread slowly, with the number of infected devices doubling every few days, but would be hard to stamp out once loose.
    — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of slowly

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halting
haltingly
halts
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Cite this Entry

“Haltingly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/haltingly. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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