unwilling

adjective

ˌən-ˈwi-liŋ How to pronounce unwilling (audio)
Definition of unwillingnext
as in forced
not made or done willingly or by choice unwilling contributions from city employees who felt pressured to do so

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of unwilling Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively halted, and significantly lower through the Bab-al-Mandeb strait – with oil tankers unwilling to risk taking on fire from the Iranians and Houthis. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 27 July 2026 Iran wants full control over the Strait of Hormuz and seems unwilling to settle, analysts said. — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 25 July 2026 The surprise element to this move is that Madrid themselves had been unwilling to sign him until very recently. — David Ornstein, New York Times, 24 July 2026 Knowing the Resident Evil name to be a valuable property, producer and distributor Sony has been understandably unwilling to let the title go. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for unwilling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwilling
  1. forced
  2. spontaneous
  3. accidental
  4. coerced
Adjective
  • In the early 1930s, the Pulitzer Prize–winning New York Times correspondent Walter Duranty wrote stories denying the famine that Joseph Stalin’s forced-collectivization policies were causing in Ukraine and mocked journalists who reported the truth.
    — James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 29 July 2026
  • Hanoi has rejected the USTR’s findings as inaccurate, pointing to its strict anti-forced-labor policies and compliance with International Labour Organization rules.
    — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 27 July 2026
Definition of forced
Adjective
  • One approach is spontaneous; the other is designed to create continuity over years.
    — Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The convergence was striking, though not entirely spontaneous.
    — Peter Hall, Scientific American, 31 July 2026
Definition of spontaneous
Adjective
  • Researchers think that most bites are accidental; great white sharks mistake people for seals or sea lions.
    — Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Lioness actress Laysla De Oliveira has become somewhat of an accidental action star.
    — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of accidental
Adjective
  • Human rights groups have accused Iranian authorities of denying defendants due process, relying on coerced confessions and carrying out executions after unfair trials.
    — Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026
  • Such coerced displacement did not — and could not — extinguish rights guaranteed by a still-valid agreement.
    — Shaun Chapoose, Denver Post, 20 May 2026
Definition of coerced

Browse Nearby Words

unwilled
unwilling
unwillingly
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Cite this Entry

“Unwilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwilling. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on unwilling

Nglish: Translation of unwilling for Spanish Speakers

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