as in reluctance
a lack of willingness or desire to do or accept something
your unwillingness to help with the cooking means that you won't be sharing in the eating
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Recent Examples of unwillingness
On that song, Chapman laments about his unwillingness to evolve.
—
Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 24 May 2026
The first two signal the domestic draw that pulls her lover into her orbit, time and time again; the last, her unwillingness to be cowed when the powers that be come to threaten her—and her influence over the other characters, to resist the bootheel of the bully.
—Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Her unwillingness to see this complicated problem outside of a politically expedient, simplistic partisan lens is disqualifying.
—Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, Mercury News, 15 May 2026
Their unwillingness to engage beyond the surface means a refusal to examine rap’s layered explorations of life, pride and pain, described through lyrical humor, social commentary and witty wordplay.
—A.d. Carson, The Conversation, 6 May 2026
That’s due, in part, to the administration’s unwillingness to target threats to public safety and instead detaining as many unauthorized immigrants as possible, immigration attorneys and advocates say.
—Aileen Clarke, Houston Chronicle, 6 May 2026
But at least the state’s unwillingness to provide is no longer a secret.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 May 2026
In fact, the outlet indicates that the king is increasingly frustrated about William’s unwillingness to talk to his brother.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 4 May 2026
The problem with the exhibition is not the works of art on view, but its ambiguous premise, its unwillingness to define its terms and approach the Lost Cause with historical clarity.
—Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026
Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 24 May 2026
The first two signal the domestic draw that pulls her lover into her orbit, time and time again; the last, her unwillingness to be cowed when the powers that be come to threaten her—and her influence over the other characters, to resist the bootheel of the bully.
—Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Her unwillingness to see this complicated problem outside of a politically expedient, simplistic partisan lens is disqualifying.
—Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, Mercury News, 15 May 2026
Their unwillingness to engage beyond the surface means a refusal to examine rap’s layered explorations of life, pride and pain, described through lyrical humor, social commentary and witty wordplay.
—A.d. Carson, The Conversation, 6 May 2026
That’s due, in part, to the administration’s unwillingness to target threats to public safety and instead detaining as many unauthorized immigrants as possible, immigration attorneys and advocates say.
—Aileen Clarke, Houston Chronicle, 6 May 2026
But at least the state’s unwillingness to provide is no longer a secret.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 May 2026
In fact, the outlet indicates that the king is increasingly frustrated about William’s unwillingness to talk to his brother.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 4 May 2026
The problem with the exhibition is not the works of art on view, but its ambiguous premise, its unwillingness to define its terms and approach the Lost Cause with historical clarity.
—Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwillingness
reluctance
Noun
-
Despite her reluctance, Ava decides to show up for her best friend, and the two embark on an extravagant European trip that involves driving stick shift in the streets of Paris, high-end dining, shopping and clubbing until dawn.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
-
Lean says the experience had an awful effect on him, filling him with shame and a reluctance to direct again.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unwillingness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwillingness. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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