wherewithal

noun

ˈ(h)wer-wi-ˌt͟hȯl How to pronounce wherewithal (audio)
Definition of wherewithalnext
1
as in resources
available money had the wherewithal to pay cash for the car

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wealth
the total of one's money and property people with the wherewithal to be able to afford such a lavish lifestyle

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 wherewithal Those firms have the financial wherewithal to navigate the dispute system, says Kennah Watts, a research fellow at Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms. — Lisa Jarvis, Mercury News, 1 Aug. 2026 The job market has bounced back this year from a lackluster 2025, giving consumers the wherewithal to spend. — Paul Wiseman, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026 Where the Padres may be unique is MLB’s collective bargaining agreement unfairly weakening the club’s farm-building and trade-making wherewithal. — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 July 2026 Who has the wherewithal to figure out timing like that? — Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for wherewithal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wherewithal
  1. resources
  2. wealth
  3. fund
  4. assets
  5. pocket
  6. capital
  7. money
  8. means
Noun
  • The Scarlet Knights spent the offseason pouring resources into a defense Schiano insisted would be much better.
    — The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • L3Harris is therefore putting significant resources into expanding its manufacturing base.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of resources
Noun
  • At the peak of their popularity, GM was selling hundreds of thousands of Cadillacs a year, turning the brand into the ultimate American symbol of wealth and success.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 10 Sep. 2026
  • For CEOs, being frequent topics of conversation on social platforms and cable news won’t help, and growing wealth inequality across the world may only exacerbate the problem.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of wealth
Noun
  • The shift injects yet another element of volatility into the work of the federal division in charge of administering billions of dollars in taxpayer funds to states and schools to help students with disabilities.
    — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
  • In 2011, after a near-decade of advocacy on the part of first responders, President Barack Obama signed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, which established the WTC Health Program and reopened the compensation fund.
    — Lila Dominus, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of fund
Noun
  • The other military assets involved are our friends and allies in the region.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Irrevocable trusts generally can't be changed and are often used to protect assets, minimize estate taxes or manage more complex assets and family situations.
    — Medora Lee, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of assets
Noun
  • Edge rushers Darris Smith and Daeden Hopkins didn’t record a sack but were active in their rush and affected the quarterback’s pocket.
    — PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2026
  • That does mean taking on the risk of paying for a major repair out of pocket.
    — Brian Sloan, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of pocket
Noun
  • Consequently, the ramifications of Japan's policy changes are no longer confined to the yen and domestic markets, but are fast becoming a key variable influencing global interest rates and capital flows.
    — , CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026
  • At the time, a conviction for a capital felony carried either life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.
    — Greg Smith, Hartford Courant, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of capital
Noun
  • That pick also comes with significantly more money (close to $3 million in 2026) for a team’s draft bonus pool.
    — Tim Britton, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The money will go toward manufacturing research for the hardware behind its quantum processors.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of money
Noun
  • The power is in the hands of the owners of the means of production, and that is not the doctors.
    — Torie Bosch, STAT, 5 Sep. 2026
  • That’s well above 2025’s monthly average of 10,000 jobs, but below the monthly means for 2023 and 2024.
    — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of means

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wherever
wherewithal
wherries
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Cite this Entry

“Wherewithal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wherewithal. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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