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unwillingly
/ʌnˈwɪlɪŋli/
without wanting to
She unwillingly agreed to help, even though she was tired.
She agreed to help, but she did not want to do it.
neutral
in a manner that shows reluctance or lack of desire
He unwillingly signed the document under pressure.
He signed the document, but he did not want to.
She unwillingly accepted the promotion because she feared failure.
She accepted the promotion, but she was reluctant to take it.
Often used to describe actions performed due to external pressure or necessity rather than personal desire.
Collocations
unwillingly complyto obey or agree reluctantlyunwillingly admitto confess or acknowledge something reluctantly
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Avoid redundancy
Avoid pairing 'unwillingly' with words like 'forced' or 'compelled,' as it already implies reluctance (e.g., 'She unwillingly went' is sufficient).
Gold Rule
Use for actions, not states
'Unwillingly' describes how an action is performed, not a person's general attitude (e.g., 'He unwillingly helped' is correct, but 'He is unwillingly' is incorrect).
Word Origin
From Middle English 'unwilling' (unwilling) + '-ly' (adverbial suffix), first recorded in the 14th century.
Usage Notes
Used to emphasize the lack of enthusiasm or desire behind an action. Common in both formal and informal contexts.
Word Breakdown
un-
not
prefixwilling
ready or eager to do something
root-ly
makes an adverb
suffixEnglish Dictionary