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
William may have been unwilling to submit to a second sacrifice.
—
Stacy Schiff, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
The Insurrection Act goes further by permitting the president to use the Guard—and even active-duty military—within the United States to suppress rebellion, enforce federal laws, or protect constitutional rights when state or local authorities are unable or unwilling to do so.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
The film has included the more sensitive images of the anti-lockdown protests, but seems unwilling or incapable to confront what happened next.
—Yangyang Cheng, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
Several of the group’s top political officials were said to have supported the deal while its militants inside Gaza were unwilling to lay down their arms.
—Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unwilling
Stacy Schiff, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
The Insurrection Act goes further by permitting the president to use the Guard—and even active-duty military—within the United States to suppress rebellion, enforce federal laws, or protect constitutional rights when state or local authorities are unable or unwilling to do so.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
The film has included the more sensitive images of the anti-lockdown protests, but seems unwilling or incapable to confront what happened next.
—Yangyang Cheng, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
Several of the group’s top political officials were said to have supported the deal while its militants inside Gaza were unwilling to lay down their arms.
—Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unwilling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwilling
Adjective
-
Not in a way that seems forced but natural.—
Essence,
Essence,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Human rights groups, citing concerns over forced confessions, have condemned a wave of hundreds of arrests and warned that the government is using the June conflict as a pretext to escalate repression.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
From sunny beaches and cultural city breaks to mountain towns framed by fall foliage, autumn offers plenty of affordable options for a spontaneous getaway.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Oct. 2025
-
So Rey and Ismael and their band played their first gig, a spontaneous Catholic block party.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
At the time, Anderson called it an accidental error.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Oct. 2025
-
The Americans started brightly and confidently, getting control in midfield and probing with intent, but chances were rare, with the first real effort somewhat accidental as Zavier Gozo’s cross from the left clipped the top of the bar.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Winters writes that this initial system of coerced labor didn’t go very well for the elites.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
7 Aug. 2025
-
Like Netflix's popular 2015 docuseries Making a Murderer, The Yogurt Shop Murders explores unethical interrogation tactics used by law enforcement and questions of coerced confessions.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unwilling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwilling. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share