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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of will
Kolawole Samuel Adebayo, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Swish a floater in the lane to essentially ice things, only to be called upon to drill a pair of free throws seconds later because LeBron James nearly willed Los Angeles back into it?
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2025
Sophie Hills, Christian Science Monitor, 4 June 2025
What's revolting is the hubris that has inspired Trump to ignore the law as declared by Congress and the courts and associate law instead with his own personal will.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for will
Verb
But like a car, AI only goes where the driver wills its wheels.
—Kolawole Samuel Adebayo, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Swish a floater in the lane to essentially ice things, only to be called upon to drill a pair of free throws seconds later because LeBron James nearly willed Los Angeles back into it?
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2025
Noun
The founders used the First Amendment to cement free speech as a civic badge in a country where the government served the will of the people.
—Sophie Hills, Christian Science Monitor, 4 June 2025
What's revolting is the hubris that has inspired Trump to ignore the law as declared by Congress and the courts and associate law instead with his own personal will.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for will
Recent Examples of Synonyms for will
Verb
-
In one case, the person had left the state overnight.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
10 June 2025
-
After Naomi’s birth, Parker-Tyus returned with some of her strongest stats—even after a tough pregnancy that left her weak and sick.—
Victoria Uwumarogie,
Essence,
10 June 2025
Verb
-
But White wanted to see boxing spectacles made more accessible.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
10 June 2025
-
Smith has been getting more serious about wanting to be an actor.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
10 June 2025
Noun
-
Still, progressive proponents of the ERA demanded that some legal loophole must exist to circumvent those restraints.—
Sarah Bedford,
The Washington Examiner,
8 June 2025
-
Intense hostility all around means that for now, neither Russia nor China is even willing to sit down to discuss nuclear restraints, in treaty form or otherwise.—
Matthew Bunn,
The Conversation,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
That’s life, and that something that also drove our artistic choices to a heartwarming visual style, retaining proximity with our main character throughout her ups and downs that also manifest in the film’s palette.—
Kevin Giraud,
Variety,
8 June 2025
-
The amount of sun and the exposure in your garden should be key factors in making your plant choices.—
Tim Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2025
Verb
-
The Oilers bought out the final three seasons of the five-year $25-million contract that Holland bequeathed on goaltender Jack Campbell in 2022.—
Carol Schram,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
-
In 1937, the major American collector Andrew Mellon bequeathed two Vermeers to the National Gallery, which, despite the promises of Wilhelm von Bode of Berlin’s Kaiser-Friedrich-Museum and Wilhelm Martin of the Mauritshuis—titans of the European museum world—also turned out to be imitations.—
Kristian Vistrup Madsen,
Harper's Magazine,
19 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Filming wrapped in February, and a release date has yet to be announced. Transforming a wildly popular, hyperactive manga with more than 1,100 episodes into a live-action series is no easy feat, but Netflix's reimagining of One Piece pleased noobs and fans alike.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
30 May 2025
-
Not for a grade, not for schoolwide recognition or honors, not for a potential scholarship, not to please a parent.—
Donna Vickroy,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2025
Noun
-
From a basketball standpoint, Newell’s experiences with hard work and determination have manifested themselves into a never-ending urge to hunt offensive rebounds.—
Mat Issa,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
Despite facing serious health challenges, Les Jones continues to chase the trails as a powerful reminder that passion and determination can carry us far.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
People.com,
7 June 2025
Noun
-
Murderbot's newfound free will leads to odd behavior sparking suspicion from the PreservationAux team.—
Billie Melissa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 May 2025
-
The best part of the series is that Murderbot realizes in real time that his survival depends on changing his free will from a self-serving code to an acceptance of all the intimate and scary parts of being alive.—
Rory Doherty,
Time,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Will.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/will. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share