: not willing: such as
a
: not wanting to do something
—usually followed by to + verb
The witness was unwilling to cooperate.
He is unwilling to help.
b
always used before a noun
: made to do something that you do not want to do
He was an unwilling participant in the demonstration.
Cite this Entry
“Unwilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/unwilling. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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