unwilling

[ uhn-wil-ing ]

/ ʌnˈwɪl ɪŋ /

Save This Word!

See 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.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of unwilling

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

OTHER WORDS FROM unwilling

un·will·ing·ly, adverbun·will·ing·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use unwilling in a sentence

The key difference between now and 2016, though, is that after the election, a majority of Republicans are still unwilling to accept the result.
More Republicans Distrust This Year’s Election Results Than Democrats After 2016|Dhrumil Mehta (dhrumil.mehta@fivethirtyeight.com)|November 20, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
The public has little use for a brand’s Twitter account if it’s unwilling to get down and dirty with the masses.
Meet the professional memers|Luke Winkie|November 11, 2020|Vox
The good news is that, given the record-breaking early turnout ahead of Election Day, a number of you were unwilling to accept no for an answer and successfully convinced people you care about to participate.
A Front-Line Struggle: Getting Reluctant Voters to Vote|Eugene Robinson|November 3, 2020|Ozy
The Steelers are willing to evolve, but unwilling to budge from the foundation of their success.
After their foundation appeared shaken, the Steelers emerged as one of the NFL’s best|Adam Kilgore|October 30, 2020|Washington Post

I suspect most organizations are in bad shape, but unable or unwilling to face it.
The Self-Driving Car Is a Red Herring - Issue 92: Frontiers|Anthony Townsend|October 21, 2020|Nautilus
Those of us who join the club of gun violence survivors do it unwillingly.
Joe the Plumber’s ‘Dead Kid’ Callousness|Erica Lafferty|May 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But the small boy who was unwillingly dawdling through a series of poses for it, to-day refused all bribes to be good.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the Show|Robert W. Chambers|February 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I was at the front lines of this debate during much of my childhood, unwillingly.
This Is What It Is Like To Be Deaf From Birth|Quora Contributor|December 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
And these arrivals are hardly poor Okies pushed back unwillingly; the Plains cities have become magnets for educated people.
Prairie Populism Goes Bust As Obama’s Democrats Loses The Empty Quarter|Joel Kotkin|November 4, 2012|DAILY BEAST
But he thought of the possible danger to Maxgregor, and he was forced unwillingly to abandon his intention.
The Weight of the Crown|Fred M. White
Clanricarde came in on protection, which was granted unwillingly, and surrendered Loughreagh as a material guarantee.
Ireland Under the Tudors, Vol. II (of 3)|Richard Bagwell
The girl gave way unwillingly, showed Mrs. Floyd into a small study looking on the front garden, and left her.
Marriage la mode|Mrs. Humphry Ward
In the following year Loftus was translated to Dublin and forced to resign his deanery, which he did very unwillingly.
Ireland Under the Tudors, Vol. II (of 3)|Richard Bagwell
Let me go free, only give me my liberty, and the secret I have unwillingly discovered shall never pass my lips!
They Looked and Loved|Mrs. Alex McVeigh Miller

British Dictionary definitions for unwilling

unwilling

/ (ʌnˈwɪlɪŋ) /

adjective

unfavourably inclined; reluctant

performed, given, or said with reluctance

Derived forms of unwilling

unwillingly, 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

unwilling

Origin of unwilling

OTHER WORDS FROM unwilling

Words related to unwilling

How to use unwilling in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for unwilling

Derived forms of unwilling