as in reluctance
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
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Recent Examples of unwillingness
The first two signal the domestic draw that pulls her lover into her orbit, time and time again; the last, her unwillingness to be cowed when the powers that be come to threaten her—and her influence over the other characters, to resist the bootheel of the bully.
—
Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Her unwillingness to see this complicated problem outside of a politically expedient, simplistic partisan lens is disqualifying.
—Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, Mercury News, 15 May 2026
Their unwillingness to engage beyond the surface means a refusal to examine rap’s layered explorations of life, pride and pain, described through lyrical humor, social commentary and witty wordplay.
—A.d. Carson, The Conversation, 6 May 2026
That’s due, in part, to the administration’s unwillingness to target threats to public safety and instead detaining as many unauthorized immigrants as possible, immigration attorneys and advocates say.
—Aileen Clarke, Houston Chronicle, 6 May 2026
But at least the state’s unwillingness to provide is no longer a secret.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 May 2026
In fact, the outlet indicates that the king is increasingly frustrated about William’s unwillingness to talk to his brother.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 4 May 2026
The problem with the exhibition is not the works of art on view, but its ambiguous premise, its unwillingness to define its terms and approach the Lost Cause with historical clarity.
—Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026
The freshman North Side alderman had led the committee for eight months beginning with Burnett’s departure, but since the start of the year showed an increasing unwillingness to continue as interim.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Her unwillingness to see this complicated problem outside of a politically expedient, simplistic partisan lens is disqualifying.
—Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, Mercury News, 15 May 2026
Their unwillingness to engage beyond the surface means a refusal to examine rap’s layered explorations of life, pride and pain, described through lyrical humor, social commentary and witty wordplay.
—A.d. Carson, The Conversation, 6 May 2026
That’s due, in part, to the administration’s unwillingness to target threats to public safety and instead detaining as many unauthorized immigrants as possible, immigration attorneys and advocates say.
—Aileen Clarke, Houston Chronicle, 6 May 2026
But at least the state’s unwillingness to provide is no longer a secret.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 May 2026
In fact, the outlet indicates that the king is increasingly frustrated about William’s unwillingness to talk to his brother.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 4 May 2026
The problem with the exhibition is not the works of art on view, but its ambiguous premise, its unwillingness to define its terms and approach the Lost Cause with historical clarity.
—Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026
The freshman North Side alderman had led the committee for eight months beginning with Burnett’s departure, but since the start of the year showed an increasing unwillingness to continue as interim.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unwillingness
reluctance
Noun
-
There has so far been a reluctance to budge, citing that football has a contractual priority during its season.—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
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There’s also a reluctance to become reliant on Nvidia’s chips on the Chinese side.—
Kai Nicol-Schwarz,
CNBC,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unwillingness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unwillingness. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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