as in involuntarily
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Recent Examples of unwillingly
My apologies also go to my ex-girlfriend, who unwillingly ended up in the media spotlight.
—
Jake Kanter, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2026
Those who came under suspicion were taken unwillingly to a military hospital in Pretoria, cut off from their families, and subjected to electric shocks.
—Eve Fairbanks, The Dial, 27 Jan. 2026
By the end of film, Lough somewhat unwillingly parts ways with SamBot—handing over the chatbot to Altman via tech journalist Kara Swisher—after pressure from producers worried about the legal risks of holding onto the deepfake.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 16 Jan. 2026
And after miraculously surviving the attack that left her with facial paralysis and a bullet forever lodged in her brain, Buttafuoco was immediately, unwillingly thrust into the spotlight.
—Janine Rubenstein, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026
The narrative follows Kim Phúc into adulthood—her education, religious awakening, defection to Canada, and, by taking ownership of the photograph in which she was unwillingly portrayed, her eventual emergence as a humanitarian advocate for child victims of conflict.
—Literary Hub, 19 Dec. 2025
Reeves is a cranky, deadpanning Estragon, wallowing in frustration as his gangly limbs swing, unwillingly turning to his friend but also welcoming the help, the hugs.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2025
Remember that the members of the military and the National Guard who will be asked to walk these streets are, for the most part, here unwillingly.
—USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
Jake never did learn that Anna and Tess unwillingly switched bodies overnight.
—Mara Reinstein, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025
Jake Kanter, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2026
Those who came under suspicion were taken unwillingly to a military hospital in Pretoria, cut off from their families, and subjected to electric shocks.
—Eve Fairbanks, The Dial, 27 Jan. 2026
By the end of film, Lough somewhat unwillingly parts ways with SamBot—handing over the chatbot to Altman via tech journalist Kara Swisher—after pressure from producers worried about the legal risks of holding onto the deepfake.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 16 Jan. 2026
And after miraculously surviving the attack that left her with facial paralysis and a bullet forever lodged in her brain, Buttafuoco was immediately, unwillingly thrust into the spotlight.
—Janine Rubenstein, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026
The narrative follows Kim Phúc into adulthood—her education, religious awakening, defection to Canada, and, by taking ownership of the photograph in which she was unwillingly portrayed, her eventual emergence as a humanitarian advocate for child victims of conflict.
—Literary Hub, 19 Dec. 2025
Reeves is a cranky, deadpanning Estragon, wallowing in frustration as his gangly limbs swing, unwillingly turning to his friend but also welcoming the help, the hugs.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2025
Remember that the members of the military and the National Guard who will be asked to walk these streets are, for the most part, here unwillingly.
—USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
Jake never did learn that Anna and Tess unwillingly switched bodies overnight.
—Mara Reinstein, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwillingly
Adverb
-
Twenty people did not die on our streets this winter because they were not involuntarily removed, or because there wasn’t an available apartment.—
Barbara A. Blair,
New York Daily News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
He was sent to a state hospital for treatment and involuntarily placed on medication.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
What makes all of the above even worse is that the Johnson administration pulled a bait-and-switch on the City Council late last year when aldermen reluctantly agreed to debt-finance these operational costs.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
-
When Laura insists on returning to Berlin, the impatient, irritated boyfriend reluctantly agrees to drive her back to the train station.—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unwillingly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwillingly. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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