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Definition of unwillingly

unwillingly

/ʌnˈwɪl.ɪŋ.li/
un · will · ing · ly
Adjective:unwilling
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unwillingly Lexical Profile

unwillingly Game Scores & Validity

• adverb

1

In a reluctant manner; against one's wishes or without consent.

Example

"He unwillingly agreed to relocate to the regional office after the company restructured."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for unwillingly
Antonyms
View all antonyms for unwillingly

Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse 'unwillingly' (against one's wishes or with reluctance) with 'unwittingly' (without awareness or unintentionally).

• Rhymes for unwillingly

• Nearby Words

unwieldy
unwilled
unwilling
unwillingly
unwillingness
unwind
unwindable

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English unwillendlīce, formed from unwillende ('unwilling') and the adverbial suffix -līce ('-ly').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Unwillingly. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/unwillingly
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