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

Then on August 10, a large container ship paid a staggering $4 million to fast-track its trip — leaving others, either unwilling or unable to shell out that kind of sum, in maritime limbo. — Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026

Cole and Angie discover, at almost the same time, that one of the containers is filled with unwilling passengers, some of them children, and that the rest of the crew is in on this human-trafficking operation. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2026

Arsenal have made several bids for Tyjon, but Blackburn have been unwilling to sell, which led to a standoff. — James McNicholas, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Mensink, meanwhile, is traveling through Europe and North Africa with nearly no money — unwilling to give up his dream of being a travel vlogger. — Mattha Busby, Rolling Stone, 19 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