unwilling

Unwilling is an adjective used to describe a person or thing that lacks willingness to act, or that is opposed to taking a particular action. It connotes reluctance, hesitation, or outright refusal, in contrast with willing or eager. In sentences it commonly appears before a to-infinitive or a clause, as in “She was unwilling to compromise” or “The workers were unwilling to enter the building.”

The noun form is unwillingness, and the adverbial form is unwillingly.

Etymology and morphology: Unwilling derives from un- (a negating prefix) + willing, from Old English willian or will, meaning want or desire. The sense has persisted into modern English, preserving a contrast with the positive will to act.

Usage notes: Unwilling can imply personal preference, moral or practical restraint, or external pressure. It is generally neutral but can carry mild judgment depending on context. It is distinct from reluctant, which emphasizes hesitation; and from loath, which conveys a stronger moral or emotional aversion. In formal or legal contexts, phrases like “unwilling witness” or “unwilling participant” describe a lack of voluntary cooperation.

Common related terms: unwillingness (noun), unwillingly (adverb). See also synonyms such as reluctant, averse, disinclined.