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
Relevance
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
So far, the Attorney General has been unwilling to answer hard questions in public about his record.
—
Jack Fink, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
At the other end, Martinez exclusively went long from goal kicks, unwilling to allow Newcastle to press and build momentum.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Many homeowners are stuck in 3% mortgage purgatory, unwilling to trade into a higher payment.
—John Walkup, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
This option hasn’t panned out, either, because other states and tribes in the region have been unwilling to provide wolves to Colorado.
—Kris Millgate, Outdoor Life, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unwilling
Jack Fink, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
At the other end, Martinez exclusively went long from goal kicks, unwilling to allow Newcastle to press and build momentum.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Many homeowners are stuck in 3% mortgage purgatory, unwilling to trade into a higher payment.
—John Walkup, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
This option hasn’t panned out, either, because other states and tribes in the region have been unwilling to provide wolves to Colorado.
—Kris Millgate, Outdoor Life, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unwilling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwilling
Adjective
-
What comes through most vividly is the sense of forced placidity, the assembly-line-like control over life and activity this country club comes to represent.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
24 Jan. 2026
-
But, unlike the references to modern beauty and diet culture, which feel organically woven into the story, the guest-star appearances feel forced, as if TV, too, has to transform into something else to stay relevant.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Long afternoons and spontaneous plans unfold on patios and in parks across the city.—
Julia Viele,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Wilde explained that the film had many influences, including Mike Nichols and Nora Ephron, but the collaborative writing process and spontaneous shoot was partially inspired by the films of John Cassavetes.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Despite the humor Stiller brings to all of his projects, the physical comedy was anything but accidental.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
-
This ambiguity is not accidental.—
Marc Schneier,
New York Daily News,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Deradicalization is equally vital—not as a coerced reeducation, but as part of a healing process that encompasses Israelis as well as Palestinians.—
Samer Sinijlawi,
The Atlantic,
13 Nov. 2025
-
Prosecutors retried one of the men, John Kogut – who had made a coerced confession to the murder – but he was acquitted.—
Lauren del Valle,
CNN Money,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unwilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwilling. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
