UNWILLING Synonyms: 39 Similar and Opposite Words

unwilling

adjective

ˌən-ˈwi-liŋ

Definition of unwilling

as in forced

not made or done willingly or by choice unwilling contributions from city employees who felt pressured to do so

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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 Cossovitsa continued to suggest that the Cypriot government was unwilling to support a project that predominantly represented Turkish Cypriots. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 7 Nov. 2026 What resulted was a midterm repudiation of Republicans that, as election night wore on, some in the White House were unwilling to own. — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2026 There seemed to be no dimension of the project’s context that Judd was unwilling to take seriously. — Julian Rose, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026 Some older residents have been unwilling to leave their homes despite the dire humanitarian and security situation. — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unwilling

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwilling

Adjective

By forced proximity to a collapsing world, and hollowed out by the theater of their own democracies, contemporary Western readers are beginning to learn the language of qaher.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Nov. 2026
According to Chilean judicial reports obtained by the Associated Press, approximately 20,000 cases of forced or criminal adoptions took place during the 17 years of Pinochet’s military regime.

— Nayara Batschke, Los Angeles Times, 12 Nov. 2026

Definition of forced

Adjective

More than a decade after their campus improvisation series Call and Response, the trio revived its interweaving chemistries for this studio session, as spontaneous as it is grounded.

— Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 13 Nov. 2026
And then the spontaneous cheers and shouts erupted as the aircraft, full of returning troops, lifted off the South Vietnam air strip.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2026

Definition of spontaneous

Adjective

The medical examiner ruled his death accidental, with several secondary causes listed, including heat stress, tachycardia and osteoporosis.

— Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
However, accidental damage and unrelated screen repairs may fall under different coverage terms.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 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

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unwilled

unwilling

unwillingly

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“Unwilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwilling. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of unwilling

adjective

Example Sentences

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Cite this Entry

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