unwilling

adjective

un·​will·​ing ˌən-ˈwi-liŋ 

: not willing:

a

: loath, reluctant

was unwilling to learn

b

: done or given reluctantly

unwilling approval

c

: offering opposition : obstinate

an unwilling student

unwillingly

ˌən-ˈwi-liŋ-lē 

adverb

unwillingness noun

Synonyms

• coerced
• forced
• involuntary
• unintended
• unintentional
• will-less

Examples of unwilling in a Sentence

He was an unwilling participant in the demonstration.

unwilling contributions from city employees who felt pressured to do so

Recent Examples on the Web

Among the 15 people who work at Duffy’s is Russell’s long-time business partner Jim Fab, who still toils in the kitchen making soups and sauces and whatever else needs done, long past retirement age but unwilling to stop working. —Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2025

The Trump Administration appears unwilling to let Europe leverage its noisy but dilatory contributions to the Ukraine war into a seat at the negotiating table. —The Wall Street Journal, Twin Cities, 28 Feb. 2025

Think of them as the original quiet quitters, gliding along in neutral, unwilling to put the car in gear. —Jenny Anderson, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2025

However, there is a world in which the team is unable or perhaps unwilling to make its biggest swing at centre and pivots instead to adding a more impactful defenceman and using their Grade-A assets that way. —Jonas Siegel, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unwilling

• backfilling
• distilling
• fulfilling
• infilling
• instilling
• refilling
• sawmilling
• billing
• chilling
• drilling
• filling
• grilling

Kids Definition

unwilling

adjective

un·​will·​ing ˌən-ˈwil-iŋ 

ˈən-

: not willing

unwillingly adverb

unwillingness noun