unwilling

[uhn-wil-ing]

See more synonyms for unwilling on Thesaurus.com

adjective

not willing; reluctant; loath; averse: an unwilling partner in the crime.
opposed; offering resistance; stubborn or obstinate; refractory: an unwilling captive.

Origin of unwilling

before 900; Old English unwillende (not recorded in ME); see un-¹, willing

Related formsun·will·ing·ly, adverbun·will·ing·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for unwilling

Contemporary Examples

A few years ago, Crowder stopped making the screws because Spinal Solutions was unwilling to pay a fair price, he said.
Patients Screwed in Spine Surgery ‘Scam’
The Center for Investigative Reporting
November 3, 2014
The Obama administration has pulled together a coalition as ineffectual as it is unwilling.
There’s Only One Way to Beat ISIS: Work With Assad and Iran
Leslie H. Gelb
October 18, 2014
In general, Isfahan authorities have been unwilling to speak on the matter.
Acid Attacks on Women Spread Terror in Iran
IranWire
October 18, 2014
Many are unwilling to admit that bigotry has entered the mainstream.
Why Bigotry Persists
Stephen Eric Bronner
September 28, 2014
Some actors feel the studios are unwilling to take chances with these huge global revenues by taking risks in casting.
Fear of a Minority Superhero: Marvel's Obsession with White Guys Saving the World
Marlow Stern
August 7, 2014

Historical Examples

America will not impose our own style of government on the unwilling.
United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches
Various
But she dared not speak; she was unwilling to ask herself anything.
The Dream
Emile Zola
Unwilling to be disturbed, I readily believed all that lulled me in my security.
Tales And Novels, Volume 4 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth
And what kind of a Dutchman are you, sir, who are unwilling to do honor to the greatest of all Dutchmen?
In the Valley
Harold Frederic
Men are seldom credulous of what they are unwilling to believe.
Night and Morning, Complete
Edward Bulwer-Lytton

British Dictionary definitions for unwilling

unwilling

adjective

unfavourably inclined; reluctant
performed, given, or said with reluctance

Derived Formsunwillingly, adverbunwillingness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for unwilling

adj.

Old English unwillende, from un- (1) "not" + willing. Re-formed 16c. Related: Unwillingly; unwillingness.

unwilling

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}unwilling

Related Words

Examples from the Web for unwilling

Contemporary Examples

A few years ago, Crowder stopped making the screws because Spinal Solutions was unwilling to pay a fair price, he said.

The Obama administration has pulled together a coalition as ineffectual as it is unwilling.

In general, Isfahan authorities have been unwilling to speak on the matter.

Many are unwilling to admit that bigotry has entered the mainstream.

Some actors feel the studios are unwilling to take chances with these huge global revenues by taking risks in casting.

Historical Examples

America will not impose our own style of government on the unwilling.

But she dared not speak; she was unwilling to ask herself anything.

Unwilling to be disturbed, I readily believed all that lulled me in my security.

And what kind of a Dutchman are you, sir, who are unwilling to do honor to the greatest of all Dutchmen?

Men are seldom credulous of what they are unwilling to believe.

unwilling

Word Origin and History for unwilling

adj.

Origin of unwilling