unwilling

adjective

un·​will·​ing ˌən-ˈwi-liŋ How to pronounce unwilling (audio)
Synonyms of unwillingnext
: not willing:
a
: loath, reluctant
was unwilling to learn
b
: done or given reluctantly
unwilling approval
c
: offering opposition : obstinate
an unwilling student
unwillingly adverb
unwillingness noun

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
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.
This journey was born of individual states granting student athletes the right to monetize their name, image and likeness (NIL), without jeopardizing their amateur status, an initiative the NCAA had been unwilling to take on. Eddie Edwards Jr, Baltimore Sun, 5 Jan. 2026 Elevated crime rates have led California voters to increasingly voice their frustrations and state and local officials who prove unable – or unwilling – to tackle the crime epidemic. Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 29 Dec. 2025 The country was already buckling under decades of financial mismanagement, an upside-down tax system, obstructionist high courts, and a monarchy unwilling to modernize. Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 29 Dec. 2025 Despite suggesting local chicken shops or buying frozen food, the family was unwilling to consider alternatives. Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 28 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unwilling

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unwilling was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unwilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unwilling. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

unwilling

adjective
un·​will·​ing ˌən-ˈwil-iŋ How to pronounce unwilling (audio)
ˈən-
: not willing
unwillingly adverb
unwillingness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on unwilling

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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