as in intentionally
with full awareness of what one is doing
willfully chose to risk pneumonia by jumping into a freezing lake on a dare
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Recent Examples of willfully
In other words, the Alabama court would determine whether Campbell had willfully and maliciously violated the charging orders, and that determination would then guide the bankruptcy court as to whether Campbell's debt to Radiance Capital would be excepted from discharge.
—
Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
This is yet another area in which politicians willfully overlook an opportunity to show true community leadership and bring people together with a hard look at the legitimate grievances on both sides.
—Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 21 Jan. 2026
Martin was then arrested and charged with felony child abuse and neglect and multiple counts of willfully poisoning or adulterating food, water or medicine, WCSO said.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 17 Jan. 2026
Lawyers for the group contend that the city is willfully obfuscating to cover up its inadequate efforts to live up to its settlement.
—Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
As New York City opened enrollment for 3-K and pre-K on Wednesday, Mayor Mamdani took a swipe at Eric Adams for cutting funds and outreach efforts, accusing his predecessor of willfully keeping parents in the dark about the availability of free child care.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2026
Chauvin pleaded guilty to willfully depriving, while acting under color of law, Floyd's constitutional rights, as well as the rights of a 14-year-old boy.
—Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026
The battle stems from the FCC’s assessment that AT&T and Verizon willfully violated federal law by failing to protect customers’ location data.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 9 Jan. 2026
Kennedy’s willfully uninformed rhetoric on antidepressants is going to cost lives.
—Stephen B. Soumerai, STAT, 7 Jan. 2026
Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
This is yet another area in which politicians willfully overlook an opportunity to show true community leadership and bring people together with a hard look at the legitimate grievances on both sides.
—Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 21 Jan. 2026
Martin was then arrested and charged with felony child abuse and neglect and multiple counts of willfully poisoning or adulterating food, water or medicine, WCSO said.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 17 Jan. 2026
Lawyers for the group contend that the city is willfully obfuscating to cover up its inadequate efforts to live up to its settlement.
—Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
As New York City opened enrollment for 3-K and pre-K on Wednesday, Mayor Mamdani took a swipe at Eric Adams for cutting funds and outreach efforts, accusing his predecessor of willfully keeping parents in the dark about the availability of free child care.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2026
Chauvin pleaded guilty to willfully depriving, while acting under color of law, Floyd's constitutional rights, as well as the rights of a 14-year-old boy.
—Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026
The battle stems from the FCC’s assessment that AT&T and Verizon willfully violated federal law by failing to protect customers’ location data.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 9 Jan. 2026
Kennedy’s willfully uninformed rhetoric on antidepressants is going to cost lives.
—Stephen B. Soumerai, STAT, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for willfully
Adverb
-
With only five suites, the property feels intentionally elusive.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Feb. 2026
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Zuckerberg was grilled for more than five hours in a Los Angeles courtroom over whether Instagram is intentionally addictive and will face further scrutiny as the case progresses.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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Prosecutors said Maurer, of Coalinga in Fresno County, deliberately drove his pickup truck into the children and adults.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
26 Feb. 2026
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Against that backdrop, Wednesday’s parade being heavy on troops and light on weapons could be deliberately calibrated for Kim’s domestic audience.—
Will Ripley,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Willfully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/willfully. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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