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 of unwilling

• forced
• spontaneous
• accidental
• coerced

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

Barcelona believe the Argentina striker wants to join, but Atletico are unwilling to sell for anything close to the €100m or so that the Camp Nou outfit are currently able to offer. — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Instead, in their wake, the league veered far in the other direction, taking the finesse out of the game and turning on-court play into a street fight, with officials unable or unwilling to get their arms round the physicality. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026

Instead of dropping an off-the-shelf industrial layout into an unwilling town, teams can dynamically adjust spatial footprints, integrate natural sound barriers, and match structural envelopes to local architectural vernacular. — Nia Bowers, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026

Faydra explores the impossibility of reconciling logic and longing — especially for a woman unwilling to deny desire. — Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 10 Aug. 2026

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