-ˌthȯl
Did you know?
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
Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 18 Dec. 2025
This is the dimension in which the United States has the most potential wherewithal to unsettle the autocrats.
—Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
There’s a broad expectation from investors that both Netflix and Paramount have the wherewithal — and the desire — to bump their bids up.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 9 Dec. 2025
If only someone had the wherewithal to do that for Joe Cocker this year.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 3 Dec. 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 26 Dec. 2025.
Copy Citation
Share