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unwillingness
/ˌʌnˈwɪlɪŋnəs/
reluctance or refusal
Her unwillingness to compromise led to the breakdown of negotiations.
The fact that she refused to make any concessions caused the talks to fail.
neutral
the state of not wanting to do something; reluctance or refusal to act.
The manager expressed his unwillingness to accept the new policy without further review.
The manager clearly stated that he refused to approve the policy until he had examined it more closely.
Despite the team's unwillingness to work overtime, the project deadline remained unchanged.
Even though the team did not want to work extra hours, the project's due date stayed the same.
Often used in formal or professional contexts to describe a lack of enthusiasm or cooperation.
Collocations
unwillingness tolack of desire or refusal toshow unwillingnessdemonstrate reluctance
Pro Tip
Avoid Redundancy
Do not confuse 'unwillingness' with 'inability.' 'Unwillingness' suggests a choice not to act, while 'inability' implies a lack of capacity.
Gold Rule
Context Matters
Use 'unwillingness' in contexts where someone's attitude or decision is the focus, not their physical or circumstantial limitations.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'unwilling' (not desirous) + '-ness' (suffix forming abstract nouns from adjectives). The prefix 'un-' denotes negation, and 'willing' derives from Old English 'willan' (to wish or desire).
Usage Notes
Unwillingness is typically followed by 'to' + verb (e.g., 'unwillingness to cooperate'). It implies a passive or active refusal rather than an inability to act.
Word Breakdown
un-
not
prefixwilling
having a desire to do something
root-ness
state or quality of
suffixEnglish Dictionary