freewill 1 of 2

adjective

ˈfrē-ˌwil How to pronounce freewill (audio)
Definition of freewillnext
as in voluntary
done, made, or given with one's own free will our office staff made a freewill offering for UNESCO

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

free will

2 of 2

noun

as in choice
the act or power of making one's own choices or decisions all of the workers at the homeless shelter are unpaid and are there of their own free will

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 freewill
Adjective
The free community event is sponsored by Spiritual Church of Escondido; freewill offering will be accepted. — San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Aug. 2019 Admission for the event sponsored by the Friends of the Rancho Bernardo Library is free; freewill donations will be accepted for musicians. — Linda McIntosh, sandiegouniontribune.com, 30 Apr. 2018
Noun
Even after his death, Dennett remains one of the major voices in the conversation of consciousness, religion, free will, and artificial intelligence. — Theodore McDarrah, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026 One giant leap for actor/director Andy Serkis’ baffling use of free will. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for freewill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for freewill
  1. voluntary
  2. choice
  3. volunteer
  4. will
  5. willing
Adjective
  • With that mechanism scaled back, the credibility of voluntary disclosure now rests on the quality of what sits underneath it.
    — Joel Carboni, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • Microsoft in April offered voluntary retirement to 7% of its US staff and said on Monday that more than 30% of eligible employees chose to participate.
    — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Definition of voluntary
Noun
  • Langeliers singled to right center in the third inning and made out as part of a fielder’s choice later in the inning.
    — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
  • Although justices were directly elected, state law at the time allowed governors to unilaterally appoint a candidate of their choice to the Supreme Court when a vacancy occurred in the middle of a judicial term.
    — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2026
Definition of choice
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
Definition of volunteer
Noun
  • On The Porch There’s a particular kind of magic that comes when the sun dips below the treetops and the soundtrack of a summer evening fills the air—crickets, cicadas, and whip-poor-wills.
    — Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 4 July 2026
  • Slave owners insisted that human bondage fulfilled God’s will.
    — Jim Rasenberger, The Atlantic, 4 July 2026
Definition of will
Adjective
  • However, the buyers might not be as willing to part with the quality of prospects the Angels would like.
    — Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 10 July 2026
  • Giselle Garcia, program director for NorCal Resist, said the arrest data largely tracks with the organization’s own informal counts though emphasized much enforcement goes unaccounted for if families aren’t willing to speak up.
    — Mathew Miranda July 9, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of willing

Browse Nearby Words

freewheeling
freewill
free will
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Cite this Entry

“Freewill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/freewill. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on freewill

Nglish: Translation of freewill for Spanish Speakers

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