What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
reluctantly
Example
She reluctantly agreed to go to the party with her friends. [reluctantly: adverb]
Example
He spoke reluctantly about his past experiences. [reluctantly: adverb]
unwillingly
Example
She unwillingly went to the meeting, knowing that she would be bored. [unwillingly: adverb]
Example
He was unwillingly dragged to the party by his friends. [unwillingly: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Reluctantly is more commonly used in everyday language than unwillingly. Reluctantly is versatile and can be used in various contexts, while unwillingly is less common and tends to be used in more formal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between reluctantly and unwillingly?
Unwillingly is more formal than reluctantly. While reluctantly can be used in both formal and informal contexts, unwillingly is typically reserved for more formal situations.
