wherewithal

conjunction where·with·al \ ˈhwer-wi-ˌt͟hȯl , ˈwer- , -ˌthȯl \

|Updated on: 16 Jun 2018

Examples: wherewithal in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of wherewithal

: wherewith

wherewithal was our Word of the Day on 12/14/2013. Hear the podcast!

Origin and Etymology of wherewithal

where + ²withal

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First Known Use: 1534

in the meaning defined above

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wherewithal

pronoun

Definition of wherewithal

: wherewith

First Known Use of wherewithal

1583

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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wherewithal

noun

Definition of wherewithal

: means, resources; specifically : money

didn't have the wherewithal for an expensive dinner

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Examples of wherewithal in a Sentence

A project as big as this requires a lot of financial wherewithal.
He doesn't have the wherewithal to finish what he started.

Recent Examples of wherewithal from the Web

Few criminals have the wherewithal to pull off a heist like that and leave no trail, so it's already rumored that the infamous Pink Panthers were behind the robbery.

— emily selter, Town & Country, "The Story Behind the Crime Network Rumored to Have Robbed Kim Kardashian," 4 Oct. 2016
The financial wherewithal to pay for treatment is critical.

— mark daly, idahostatesman, "Helping lead in the most difficult circumstances, when faced with Alzheimer’s toll | Idaho Statesman," 21 May 2018
Fifth, Michigan State has the financial wherewithal to pay a sizable judgment without compromising its other contractual obligations or core academic mission.

— michael mccann, SI.com, "Michigan State Settles With the Victims of Larry Nassar's Abuse. How Might the NCAA Respond?," 18 May 2018
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, which is really the only country that has the wherewithal to do something about it, is content to let the market overtighten, allowing oil prices to shoot up.

— nick cunningham, USA TODAY, "Oil prices analysis: How high could Trump actions, Saudi efforts push cost per barrel?," 20 Apr. 2018
Having amassed the wherewithal, Mr Son set about collecting stakes.

— The Economist, "The impact of Masayoshi Son’s $100bn tech fund will be profound," 10 May 2018
Previous plans have fallen apart because the city came to believe the developers didn't have the wherewithal.

— ely portillo, charlotteobserver, "Charlotte has ideas for saving the Eastland Mall site. But will any of them work? | Charlotte Observer," 26 Apr. 2018
That should be a telling barometer for a young team that should have its legs late in the season but perhaps not the wherewithal to deal with adversity and tough road matchups if Cleveland is still on the playoff fringes.

— nate davis, USA TODAY, "Cleveland Browns' 2018 NFL schedule: When will they break losing streak?," 19 Apr. 2018
And some of them have the will and the wherewithal to be better known.

— blair kamin, chicagotribune.com, "The Park at Wrigley gets a new name in true Chicago Way fashion," 11 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wherewithal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Wherewithal has been with us in one form or another since the 16th century. It comes from "where" and "withal" (meaning "with"), and it has been used as a conjunction meaning "with or by means of which" and as a pronoun meaning "that with or by which." These days, however, it is almost always used as a noun referring to the means or resources one has at one's disposal - especially financial resources, that is, money.