reluctant
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reluctantly
Describes an action that someone carries out with inner resistance, unwillingly, and only hesitantly because they do not actually want to do it.
Er gab nur widerwillig zu, dass er einen Fehler gemacht hatte.
He only reluctantly admitted that he had made a mistake.
The word is made up of the preposition 'wider' (against) and the noun 'Wille' (will). To do something 'widerwillig' (reluctantly) therefore means to do it 'against one's will'.
Sie hat die zusätzliche Arbeit nur widerwillig übernommen.
She only reluctantly took on the extra work.
'Widerwillig' (reluctantly) is very often used as an adverb to describe the manner of an action. It then usually stands directly next to the verb.
Der Junge räumte widerwillig sein Zimmer auf.
The boy reluctantly tidied up his room.
Common verbs combined with 'widerwillig' (reluctantly) express some form of agreement or action, for example 'zugeben' (to admit), 'zustimmen' (to agree), 'akzeptieren' (to accept), or 'mitmachen' (to join in/participate).
Er stimmte dem Plan nur widerwillig zu.
He only reluctantly agreed to the plan.
reluctantly
Ungern and widerwillig both show that someone does not like doing something. Ungern can simply express a lack of enjoyment or preference, while widerwillig usually emphasizes stronger inner resistance and hesitant action. For mild reluctance, ungern is sufficient; for clear resistance, widerwillig is more appropriate.
Nach langem Streit unterschrieb er widerwillig die Vereinbarung.
After a long argument, he reluctantly signed the agreement.
Ich fahre ungern im Regen mit dem Fahrrad zur Arbeit.
I don’t like cycling to work in the rain.
