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

Rival Delta Air Lines DAL.N is also unwilling to pay tariffs on aircraft deliveries, saying the duties would upset its math. —Rajesh Kumar Singh, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025

Schatz himself was unwilling to discuss his internal whip count in a brief hallway interview. —David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 29 Apr. 2025

It’s been very, very difficult because from my point of view, the companies have been unwilling to embrace the same philosophy that everybody else in the entire entertainment industry at large has embraced. —Dade Hayes, Deadline, 29 Apr. 2025

The theory behind this framework depends on banks being unwilling to lend to other banks at rates lower than the risk-free IOR rate that the Fed pays. —Norbert Michel, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 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