Unwillingness — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˌən-ˈwi-liŋ/ un·will·ing

Meaning & Definition of Unwillingness

Unwillingness (adjective)

  1. not willing:
  2. loath, reluctant
  3. done or given reluctantly

Unwillingness (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a lack of willingness or desire to do or accept something

    "your unwillingness to help with the cooking means that you won't be sharing in the eating"

    similar: disinclination, hesitance, hesitancy, reluctance, reticence
    related: faltering, fence-sitting, hesitation, indecision, irresolution, shilly-shallying, staggering, vacillation, wavering, wobbling, distrust, distrustfulness, doubt, incertitude, misdoubt, misgiving, mistrust, mistrustfulness, skepticism, suspicion, uncertainness, uncertainty
    opposite: inclination, willingness
    near: assurance, assuredness, certainty, certitude, conviction, positiveness, sureness, surety

Related Entry: Unwilling (adjective)

Unwilling is a different word from Unwillingness. The synonyms below are for unwilling, not for unwillingness.

  1. not made or done willingly or by choice

    "unwilling contributions from city employees who felt pressured to do so"

    similar: coerced, forced, involuntary, unintended, unintentional, will-less
    related: accidental, unplanned, unpremeditated, automatic, impulsive, instinctive, spontaneous, unprompted, inadvertent, unconscious, unknowing, unwitting
    opposite: deliberate, freewill, intentional, uncoerced, unforced, voluntary, willful, willing
    near: advised, conscious, considered, knowing, planned, premeditated, premeditative, prepense, purposeful, volitional, self-imposed, self-inflicted

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Unwillingness

The most common words with a similar meaning to Unwillingness:

disinclination, hesitance, hesitancy, reluctance, reticence

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Unwillingness

Words with the opposite meaning of Unwillingness:

inclination, willingness

Related Words for Unwillingness

faltering, fence-sitting, hesitation, indecision, irresolution, shilly-shallying, staggering, vacillation, wavering, wobbling, distrust, distrustfulness, doubt, incertitude, misdoubt, misgiving, mistrust, mistrustfulness, skepticism, suspicion, uncertainness, uncertainty

Near Antonyms of Unwillingness

assurance, assuredness, certainty, certitude, conviction, positiveness, sureness, surety

Word Forms of Unwillingness

Derived words: unwillingly (adverb), unwillingness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Unwillingness

First known use: before 12th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Unwillingness

What does "Unwillingness" mean?

"Unwillingness" means not willing:. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: not willing:.

What is another word for "Unwillingness"?

Other words for "Unwillingness" include disinclination, hesitance, hesitancy, reluctance and reticence. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Unwillingness" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Unwillingness"?

There are 27 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Unwillingness". Common alternatives include disinclination, hesitance, hesitancy, reluctance and reticence.

What is the opposite of "Unwillingness"?

Antonyms of "Unwillingness" include inclination and willingness. Near antonyms include assurance, assuredness, certainty and certitude.

How do you use "Unwillingness" in a sentence?

Examples of "Unwillingness" in a sentence: "your unwillingness to help with the cooking means that you won't be sharing in the eating".

Is "Unwillingness" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Unwillingness" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Unwillingness"?

"Unwillingness" is pronounced /ˌən-ˈwi-liŋ/ and divided into syllables as un·will·ing.

What is the origin of the word "Unwillingness"?

First known use: before 12th century.