as in regardless
in spite of everything
whatever the reviews say, I still think it was a great play
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
(h)wät-ˈe-vər
as in anything
any of various other things that might also be mentioned
looking for a job as writer or editor—or whatever—with a TV network newscast
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 whatever
Arkansas Online, 8 May 2021
And so the Administration of Harvard, by its own admission, has taken no action whatever.
—William F. Buckley Jr., National Review, 23 Oct. 2017
Obviously nobody is going to listen to me on the subject of clowns, so whatever.
—Marc Snetiker, EW.com, 17 Oct. 2017
Most fares are less than $330, which is whatever-the-Norwegian-word-for-remarkable-is for flights that usually cost at least $750.
—Meredith Carey, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Mar. 2017
Adverb
Wants to be sure her friends notice her new whatever-she's-wearing.
—Arkansas Online, 8 May 2021
And so the Administration of Harvard, by its own admission, has taken no action whatever.
—William F. Buckley Jr., National Review, 23 Oct. 2017
Obviously nobody is going to listen to me on the subject of clowns, so whatever.
—Marc Snetiker, EW.com, 17 Oct. 2017
Most fares are less than $330, which is whatever-the-Norwegian-word-for-remarkable-is for flights that usually cost at least $750.
—Meredith Carey, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Mar. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whatever
Adverb
-
But Cronin likely wouldn’t have sent him here regardless.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Pedro Neto said sorry for pushing a ball boy during Chelsea’s defeat at Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, and also gave the kid his shirt — but UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against the winger regardless.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
White House officials argue the waiver allows US partners to buy oil that China would have purchased anyway.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Absent a new deal, our rare earth supply — short-term anyway — remains vulnerable.—
Jon Wertheim,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
The one-sided adjustment would be a particular burden on homeowners, most of whom do not pay capital gains tax anyways as a result of existing tax exemptions.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
-
On this October night, Prescott’s was that sort of place, anyways.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whatever.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whatever. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
