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willing

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verb

present participle of will

Synonym Chooser

How is the word willing different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of willing are deliberate, intentional, and voluntary. While all these words mean "done or brought about of one's own will," willing implies a readiness and eagerness to accede to or anticipate the wishes of another.

willing obedience

When is deliberate a more appropriate choice than willing?

The words deliberate and willing are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, deliberate implies full consciousness of the nature of one's act and its consequences.

deliberate acts of sabotage

When is it sensible to use intentional instead of willing?

The words intentional and willing can be used in similar contexts, but intentional stresses an awareness of an end to be achieved.

the intentional concealment of vital information

When could voluntary be used to replace willing?

While in some cases nearly identical to willing, voluntary implies freedom and spontaneity of choice or action without external compulsion.

a voluntary confession

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of willing
Adjective
The company lags behind competitors — that was part of the reason Lip-Bu Tan was brought in to replace Pat Gelsinger — and customers aren’t willing to risk building their chips with a competitor that isn’t on the cutting edge. Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 26 Aug. 2025 Medicine might help, if your sister were willing to accept that kind of intervention. Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2025 For example, nations across Europe, Asia and South America have launched via programs for foreigners willing to invest in local business. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2025 The 2020 Abraham Accords, facilitated by President Donald Trump during his first term, was less a peace agreement and more a collection of normalization accords that sought to improve Israel’s diplomatic relations with the few Arab states willing to sign on. Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for willing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for willing
Adjective
  • Three months after his trip to America, Saiko was ready to return to Ukraine.
    Michael Collins, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2025
  • After a tough season which began with his own uncertainty last year, the England international looks more comfortable in his own skin and ready to return to his best.
    Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Isak himself stressed his happiness in the spring and featured in club kit promotions, hardly the actions of someone desperate for a quick exit.
    Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Here's a quick look at Cox plan options in Phoenix, based on the ZIP code 85014: Cox Fast: Starts at $50 per month for download and upload speeds of 300/30 Mbps for 24 months.
    Kara McGinley, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Within the past couple of years, the group has become a part of Arrowhead Kingdom, an all-volunteer national network of Chiefs fan groups.
    Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2023
  • That’s noteworthy for a show based at a high-school auditorium in Litchfield and run by a staff that is almost entirely volunteer, including the show’s star and its producer.
    Susan Dunne, Hartford Courant, 18 Aug. 2022
Verb
  • Or even, hypothetically, without leaving the dance floor.
    James Dinh, Billboard, 14 Apr. 2025
  • All these states have been struck by natural disasters last year, leaving affected residents struggling to piece their lives together—let alone file their tax returns on time.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • European fintech, for example, moves incredibly fast, while American healthcare may be more inclined to be cautious about new technologies.
    Dee Coakley, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
  • Here's where the signing might not make sense: With Torrens providing defensive value and plenty of familiarity with the pitching staff, the Mets could be more inclined to chase offensive upside from the backup catching role moving forward.
    Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • County executives who leave office voluntary, choose their immediate successors, according to the charter.
    Ilana Arougheti Updated August 20, Kansas City Star, 20 Aug. 2025
  • As of July 2025, that number surged to 451 voluntary participants — a staggering increase of over 3,500% that underscores the growing need for safeguards in the digital gambling era.
    Ethan Hylton, IndyStar, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Sheet Pan Chicken Fajita Quesadillas These sheet pan chicken fajita quesadillas are a hassle-free way to make a crowd-pleasing meal without standing over the stove.
    Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Instead, lean into what feels good, and if that’s pleasing your boo above all else, that may tell you something.
    Quispe López, Them, 13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The man is glad to have posted it on Reddit, though.
    Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
  • Melanie Splendora, who has lived in the District since 2011, was glad to hear it.
    Haisten Willis, The Washington Examiner, 12 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Willing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/willing. Accessed 31 Aug. 2025.

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