-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
Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2025
The fashion industry has the wherewithal to steer a new industrial revolution.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 25 Sep. 2025
Abandoning The Status Quo The institutions that will thrive in the next decade are not those anchored to the consensus model, but those with the wherewithal to abandon it.
—Benjamin D. Summers, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
More people use them than ever, and dictionary publishers now possess the digital wherewithal to closely track that use.
—Stefan Fatsis, The Atlantic, 13 Sep. 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 7 Oct. 2025.
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