willy-nilly

adverb or adjective

wil·​ly-nil·​ly ˌwi-lē-ˈni-lē 

1

: by compulsion : without choice

2

: in a haphazard or spontaneous manner

Synonyms

• aimlessly
• anyhow
• anyway
• anywise
• desultorily
• erratically
• haphazard
• haphazardly
• helter-skelter
• hit or miss
• irregularly
• randomly

Examples of willy-nilly in a Sentence

they were in a hurry, so they just tossed everything into the room willy-nilly, leaving it to be all sorted out later

Recent Examples on the Web

Here, Shyamalan has similar intentions: His movie would be nothing without Hartnett’s serial killer outfoxing his pursuers, slipping past one security barrier after another, stealing access badges willy-nilly and engineering his daughter’s onstage appearance with her idol. —Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 2 Aug. 2024

As such, postmodern styles are dislodged from any specific historical moment, and styles from across time can be mixed together willy-nilly. —Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 16 July 2024

Their quarterback situation is a mess with all of them throwing interceptions willy-nilly. —Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 5 Jan. 2024

The double order is emerging, as the masters of the chessboard, willy-nilly, make room for the web. —Anne-Marie Slaughter, Foreign Affairs, 4 Oct. 2016

Word History

Etymology

alteration of will I nill I or will ye nill ye or will he nill he

First Known Use

1608, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

willy-nilly

adverb or adjective

wil·​ly-nil·​ly

ˌwil-ē-ˈnil-ē

1

: by force : without choice

rushed us along willy-nilly

2

: in an unpredictable manner

children running about willy–nilly

Etymology

an altered form of the phrase will I nill I or will ye nill ye; nill, an ancient negative form of will, from Old English nyllan, a combination of ne "not" and wyllan "to wish, will"