adjective

unwilling

un-WIL-ing/ʌnˈwɪlɪŋ/

Not wanting or agreeing to do something.

The man is unwilling to clean the spill and refuses the offered mop.

A man visibly refuses an offered cleaning task: he leans away from a mop being offered to him and raises an open palm in refusal beside a plainly visible floor spill.

Etymology

unOld Englishnot

+willEnglishto desire, wish

+ingEnglishpresent-participle adjective ending

With will expressing desire, willing came to mean eager or ready to act; its negation marks reluctance. Unwilling may continue an older formation or have been formed anew from un- and willing.

In context

Enhanced Public Domain254:54

I was very unwilling to go into general practice for my tastes were all in the direction of Science and especially of zoology

1920s Fiction: Arthur Conan Doyle - Tales of Terror (Audiobook)

More examples

He is unwilling to lend anyone his car.
I became an unwilling participant in their argument.
The company seems unwilling to negotiate a lower price.

Forms

unwilling

unwillingly adverb — Without wanting or agreeing to act.

unwillingness noun — A lack of desire or consent.

Similar words

reluctant: Emphasizes hesitation or reservations, rather than an outright refusal.
resistant: Suggests active opposition rather than simply not wanting to act.