-ˌthȯl
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If wherewithal sounds like three words smashed together, that’s because it is—sort of. Wherewithal combines where and withal, an adverb from Middle English that is itself a combination of with and all. In the past, wherewithal was used as a conjunction meaning "with or by means of which" and as a pronoun meaning "that with or by which." Today, however, it is almost always used as a noun to refer to the means or resources a person or entity has at their disposal. It refers especially to financial resources, but other means such as social influence, ability, and emotional capacity may also be termed as "wherewithal."
Examples of wherewithal in a Sentence
Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2025
The Mets have the financial wherewithal and the pieces to get a deal done.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Tillman had enough wherewithal to recognize nobody had touched him, get up, and start sprinting his way to the sideline.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 27 Oct. 2025
Rensch had the chess brains to bring competitive gameplay to the platform, but didn’t have the technical or business wherewithal to launch the idea by himself.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wherewithal
Cite this Entry
“Wherewithal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wherewithal. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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