as in conscious
made, given, or done with full awareness of what one is doing
a hard-nosed industrialist with a willed indifference to public opinion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in bequeathed
to give by means of a will
willed their house to their adult children
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in pleased
to see fit
do as you will—I wash my hands of the whole affair
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of willed
Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 23 Nov. 2025
Given no choice, María Ángeles acquiesces to her daughter’s wishes and moves into the seniors’ home, where a hilarious exchange with a hairdresser wanting to chop off her long silver tresses typifies her iron-willed refusal to settle in.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025
David Kamp, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
Pope Francis fervently willed the Acutis sainthood case forward — convinced that the church needed someone like him to attract young Catholics to the faith while addressing the promises and perils of the digital age.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for willed
Adjective
Behind a strong willed business demeanor, however, lay a heart of gold.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 23 Nov. 2025
Given no choice, María Ángeles acquiesces to her daughter’s wishes and moves into the seniors’ home, where a hilarious exchange with a hairdresser wanting to chop off her long silver tresses typifies her iron-willed refusal to settle in.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
His birth overshadowed by his family’s greatest tragedy, Daniel found succor in movies and willed himself into the dreamworld of Hollywood.
—David Kamp, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
Pope Francis fervently willed the Acutis sainthood case forward — convinced that the church needed someone like him to attract young Catholics to the faith while addressing the promises and perils of the digital age.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for willed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for willed
Adjective
-
Travel became more intentional, efficient, and cost-conscious.—
Roger Sands,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Given its ever relevant themes, the film seems overloaded with influences at times—conscious or not—including The Substance (2024), Raw (2016), the 2001 Smallville episode ‘Craving’, and believe it or not, even the 2019 Bob’s Burgers episode ‘Pig Trouble in Little Tina’.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
His mother bequeathed to him her fierceness.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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Leon's children filed a civil lawsuit in the Clark County Circuit Court in 2024 claiming that Jamey took money that was bequeathed to them after their father's death in 2018.—
Lillian Metzmeier,
Louisville Courier Journal,
14 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Kennedy’s concern with productivity would have pleased Charles Davenport, a powerful leader of 20th-century American eugenics.—
Sarah DiGregorio,
Vanity Fair,
16 Jan. 2026
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The Monarchs gave JSerra little opportunity to make an offensive threat, and that pleased Mater Dei coach Sean Ganey.—
Steve Fryer,
Oc Register,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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However, what is missed is that these moves are far more deliberate actions, part of a larger tactical pattern.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The shift is abrupt and deliberate, marking the threshold between Seminyak’s glorious disorder and the calm seclusion of the Oberoi Beach Resort, Bali.—
Arion McNicoll,
TheWeek,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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According to her petition, Good wanted to change her last name from Renee Nicole Macklin to Renee Nicole Macklin Good.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
8 Jan. 2026
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The 49ers wound up losing defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans to become the head coach of the Houston Texans and Shanahan wanted to hire Fangio to replace him, but Fangio was hired by Miami the same day the 49ers’ season ended in Philadelphia in the NFC Championship game.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The program was also voluntary — if residents saw fit just to throw all their recyclable glass and aluminum and paper into the regular garbage there was nothing stopping them from doing so.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
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But that doesn’t mean anyone took it easy on Sherrod, who always participated in voluntary class time.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The company, which also provides athlete recruiting data, video production and owns some sport venues, currently has EBITDA of $40 million, according to one of the people familiar with the matter who wished to remain anonymous.—
Sara Germano,
Sportico.com,
21 Jan. 2026
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Nearly half of women wished there were more honest conversations about the physiological transition.—
Alexa Mikhail,
Flow Space,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Warning signs include difficulty cutting back despite wanting to, drinking more or longer than intended, spending a lot of time thinking about alcohol, neglecting responsibilities, or experiencing physical symptoms such as shaking, sweating, nausea or anxiety when not drinking.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
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And they should typically be capped at 10% of your overall portfolio to better allow stocks and bonds to grow as intended.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Willed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/willed. Accessed 24 Jan. 2026.
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