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 Traceability isn’t something being thrust on unwilling cotton suppliers, a new report found. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026 The Houthis, still formally in a truce with Riyadh, appeared unwilling to aid their Iranian partners. — Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026 But Spurs’ creativity problem is such that Maddison and Kudus remain important members of the squad, even while De Zerbi is unwilling or unable to pick them in the starting XI. — Dan Kilpatrick, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2026 If vendors or third parties are unwilling to remove the skill game machines from a business, owners should contact PSP for assistance. — Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unwilling

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwilling

Adjective

Complications from forced sterilization may occur and result in death.

— Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026
Late last week, the urgent selling in semiconductors and data-center equities and debt resembled the sort of forced-unwind rhythms from July, when a big upstart tech hedge fund was in the process of being all but liquidated.

— Michael Santoli, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of forced

Adjective

Much like her character Klara, Ortega chooses to have faith in humans and their spontaneous wonder.

— Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Celine’s Michael Rider leads a pack of creatives who seek spontaneous styling, embrace imperfection, and refuse to be bound by rules.

— Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of spontaneous

Adjective

The task for the printmakers, led by Erik Hougen, Jeremy Ruiz, and Tom Smith, was to reproduce the jottings, corrections, and accidental smears on Safdie’s notecard as faithfully as possible, and also to scale it up in size.

— Bruce Handy, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Good news for Boeing, but could this accidental monopoly be a potential disaster waiting to happen?

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 18 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 26 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of unwilling

adjective

Example Sentences

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