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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
Eric Olson, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
After all, Skydance Media’s $8 billion merger with Paramount last summer triggered the provision that gives the NFL the wherewithal to opt out of its legacy pact with CBS.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 1 May 2026
Athena, who stayed calm during her abduction and had the wherewithal to question her abductor, fought back when Horner was attacking her, prosecutors said, according to theStar-Telegramand NBC DFW.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
And, unlike Jokic, doesn’t display the wherewithal to avoid nonsensical fouls that hurt the team via in-the-moment free throws as well as adding to the quarter’s foul tally.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 23 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Wherewithal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wherewithal. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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