1
2
as in to want
to see fit
do as you will—I wash my hands of the whole affair
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in restraint
the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions
she kept her face still by sheer force of will
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in choice
the act or power of making one's own choices or decisions
you cannot force me to do anything against my own will
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of will
Via Harvest Books, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025
Nevertheless, slinging the ball around to a bunch of no-names, Mayfield willed the Bucs to a 30-19 win over the 49ers, throwing for 256 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2025
Eva Wen, jsonline.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Even ten films won’t move things if there’s no political will.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for will
Verb
And behind the closed door, after the party is over, I am curled in a ball trying to will myself into normalcy again.
—Via Harvest Books, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025
Nevertheless, slinging the ball around to a bunch of no-names, Mayfield willed the Bucs to a 30-19 win over the 49ers, throwing for 256 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
The clinician-only teams do not have the authority to take anyone to the hospital against their will.
—Eva Wen, jsonline.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Even ten films won’t move things if there’s no political will.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for will
Recent Examples of Synonyms for will
Verb
-
Please leave any feedback or corrections for this story here.—
USA TODAY Network,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
12 Nov. 2025
-
Enrollment reached a 30-year low last year at 894 students, leaving more than 200 vacant seats at the school as inflation drives up costs.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
12 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
If that is what Talamasca wants to be, well, what a blessing!—
Lily Osler,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The key to this classic is making sure cook off all the liquid in the summer squash, because no one wants a watery casserole.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The civil suit alleged the restraint lasted eight minutes.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Per state guidelines and Ohio Administrative Code, physical restraint must be used as a last resort and only when there is an immediate risk of physical harm to the student or others.—
Grace Tucker,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The best heroes are beloved because their choices — admirable, messy, or otherwise — are hard ones made in service of something greater.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The two were impeccably dressed as Gomez and Morticia Addams, which is a canonically Gay couple costume choice — Lakshmi, as Morticia, was holding scissors in one of the posts, for crying out loud.—
James Factora,
Them.,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Effectively, Newsom’s slow roll protects him from taking any meaningful actions, thus bequeathing reparations to his successor, like his many other unresolved California issues.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
22 Oct. 2025
-
There are also wooden pews made for the school’s Bond Chapel and 72,000 glass slides from the art-history department, all of which were bequeathed to Gates over the years.—
Elizabeth Cantrell,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
There’s always someone around the corner who’s eager to please you.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Total Wine & More’s 2025 advent calendar of wine features varietals from all over the world that are sure to please even the pickiest oenophile.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Elizabeth’s determination not to settle the succession gave rise to fierce rivalry between the claimants to the English throne, among them Mary, Queen of Scots and her son James VI; James’s cousin Arbella Stuart; Lady Katherine Grey and her descendants; and Henry Hastings, Earl of Huntingdon.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Our shareholders and clients have benefited enormously from Elon Musk's vision, determination and execution.—
Alia Shoaib,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
But, where Grace walks under her own free will with a knife, Pam's shotgun-toting strolls occur only in her sleep.—
Mike Miller,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Lyra’s quest to understand Dust brings her into confrontation with human and other worldly forces who champion moral absolutism over imagination, ignorance over knowledge, authoritarianism over free will and cold, disinterested rationality over empathy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Will.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/will. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.
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