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
Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026
Jessi, unable to will the earth to swallow her whole, makes a crack about the rain being a bad omen.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
Literary Hub, 20 Mar. 2026
In the meantime, Eric quietly consulted both a divorce lawyer and an estate planning lawyer, changing his will in 2020 to place his estate under the control of his sister for the benefit of his kids.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for will
Verb
In the movie’s fuzzy metaphysics, Shelley wills herself into the consciousness of a character named Ida (also played by Buckley), a young woman angling for survival in 1930s Chicago — a colorful, dangerous world of bawdy lotharios and lethal gangsters.
—Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026
Jessi, unable to will the earth to swallow her whole, makes a crack about the rain being a bad omen.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
Noun
Robert Pogue Harrison contemplates our ever-growing will to ignorance.
—Literary Hub, 20 Mar. 2026
In the meantime, Eric quietly consulted both a divorce lawyer and an estate planning lawyer, changing his will in 2020 to place his estate under the control of his sister for the benefit of his kids.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for will
Recent Examples of Synonyms for will
Verb
-
Take every precaution to never leave young children and pets alone in vehicles, especially in extreme heat when car interiors can quickly become hazardous.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Across America, only six in 10 caregivers remain employed, and half report work disruptions — arriving late, leaving early or quitting entirely.—
Neal K. Shah,
Boston Herald,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
After thousands of Iranian demonstrators were killed in a January crackdown, Shima Razavi Gacek wanted to keep alive her family's favorite springtime holiday traditions but didn't feel like throwing her annual house party with a roaring bonfire ahead of Nowruz -- the Persian New Year.—
AMY TAXIN,
Arkansas Online,
20 Mar. 2026
-
The backstory Businessman Juan Rosa from Lanzarote opened the 7 Islas Hotel in Madrid in 2002, wanting to create a welcoming home away from home for Canary Islanders (the seven islands).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Those documents go on to cite state data that shows a 39% increase in the use of restraints in two separate six-month periods in 2023 and 2024.—
Austen Erblat,
CBS News,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The opening two weeks of the current fighting, however, have seen a significant loosening of the restraints on targeting critical infrastructure.—
Kristian Coates Ulrichsen,
The Conversation,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
After that, the remainder of your estate might be left to a cause or charity of your choice.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Dallas Morning News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Your natural initiative helps groups move again, while a brief pause keeps choices thoughtful instead of reactive.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Manu Yaw Fofie was born into the cocoa farming business, but the land bequeathed to him has become more of a burden than a blessing.—
Edward Acquah,
Fortune,
9 Mar. 2026
-
When Greville died, the earrings were bequeathed to the Queen Mother, who then, along with her husband King George VI, gave Princess Elizabeth the pair of earrings for her wedding day.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Creative fire rises as the nurturing Moon enters Aries and gleams within your 5th House of Creativity, encouraging bold self-expression in whichever way most pleases your heart.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Perk up your party with an appetizer that’s sure to please the crowd.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
By Wednesday, the determination of our collective destiny will be all over, bar the shouting.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Her journey, marked by immigration, loss, motherhood and entrepreneurship during an economic recession, reflects both the challenges and determination of immigrant business owners in the United States.—
Brianna Mantaras,
Miami Herald,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Assassin’s Creed is a high-octane thriller centered on the secret war between two shadowy factions — one set on determining mankind’s future through control and manipulation, while the other fights to preserve free will.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Her world building and character development result in compelling compositions that ask questions about topics from free will to personal identity.—
Heide Janssen,
Oc Register,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Will.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/will. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
