1
as in rather
by choice or preference
I would not willingly eat liver, but sometimes I have no choice
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in voluntarily
of one's own free will
I willingly made the campaign contribution; no one pressured me into doing so
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of willingly
And the Patriots don’t have enough offensive firepower to willingly part with a legitimate NFL starter, taking fumbles out of the equation.
—
Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 24 Sep. 2025
In the latest demands of Intel, the government willingly relinquished the ability to exert control, despite being the largest holder of Intel’s shares.
—Andrew King, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2025
Robinson’s roommate described the exchange to police and willingly showed them the messages, authorities said.
—Chris Kenning, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
Games designed specifically for kids can deliver the thrill of play with the guardrails of safety, and even integrate learning in ways that children embrace willingly.
—Edna Martinson, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
By enjoying the exciting spectacle, their fans have willingly become mindless followers—idol worshippers who are too misguided, and naive, to see they’re being led toward their own destruction.
—Yvonne Kim, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
Von Ferdinand’s attorneys have argued Jett willingly transferred her money and properties to Von Ferdinand.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
The Dolphins would never willingly take on almost $80 million in dead space, and the team has also not shown any signs of even benching the star quarterback, much less cutting ties with him altogether.
—Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
Some American companies, including Olaplex, have willingly removed the ingredient from their formulas.
—Keyaira Boone, Essence, 5 Sep. 2025
Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 24 Sep. 2025
In the latest demands of Intel, the government willingly relinquished the ability to exert control, despite being the largest holder of Intel’s shares.
—Andrew King, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2025
Robinson’s roommate described the exchange to police and willingly showed them the messages, authorities said.
—Chris Kenning, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
Games designed specifically for kids can deliver the thrill of play with the guardrails of safety, and even integrate learning in ways that children embrace willingly.
—Edna Martinson, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
By enjoying the exciting spectacle, their fans have willingly become mindless followers—idol worshippers who are too misguided, and naive, to see they’re being led toward their own destruction.
—Yvonne Kim, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
Von Ferdinand’s attorneys have argued Jett willingly transferred her money and properties to Von Ferdinand.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
The Dolphins would never willingly take on almost $80 million in dead space, and the team has also not shown any signs of even benching the star quarterback, much less cutting ties with him altogether.
—Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
Some American companies, including Olaplex, have willingly removed the ingredient from their formulas.
—Keyaira Boone, Essence, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for willingly
Adverb
-
The audience for wax museums is melting away in the digital age, when posing with a static dummy has come to feel rather quaint.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
4 Oct. 2025
-
The simplicity is intentional so your eye isn't bouncing, but rather gliding through the room.—
Kathy Barnes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Don't expect airlines to do the right thing voluntarily.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Participants acknowledge that Submissions have been submitted voluntarily and not in confidence or in trust.—
Time,
Time,
29 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
An internal email circulated among lawmakers urged members to sign up for time slots and engage in live discussions, preferably with fellow representatives.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
-
For new-build stadiums, however, the FA recommends there should be a minimum of three metres and, preferably, a four-metre gap.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Because of the weir, the 220-acre lagoon can’t flow freely to the ocean and is slowly filling with silt and reeds.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Sep. 2025
-
This setup allowed wearers to walk freely while receiving stabilization at the hips and knees, a valuable aid for rehabilitation.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Foreclosure would become nonviable as a means of tax collection — with no readily apparent alternative means for timely collection of the delinquent revenue.—
Todd Spangler,
Freep.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Baskets under the daybed do the heavy lifting of storing shoes, dog leashes, and other items that need to be readily available for quick grabs on the go.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Willingly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/willingly. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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