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
The provision allows for damages of up to $500 per violation, or $1,500 per violation if a court finds that a company acted willfully or knowingly.
—
Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026
Joshua Booth, 51, was charged with one count of willfully or maliciously torture, maim or mutilate an animal kept for companionship or pleasure causing death, a category B felony under Nevada law, according to the Clark County District Attorney's Office.
—James Powel, USA Today, 15 May 2026
The jury was deadlocked on the special finding that the crime was done willfully, deliberately and with premeditation, the district attorney's office confirmed to PEOPLE.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
At first, this may sound like a willfully perverse way to market a useless product.
—Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 11 May 2026
The jury ruled that Meta willfully violated New Mexico’s unfair practices act and owed $375 million.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 4 May 2026
Some people are happy to roam the world as old tourists, pure consumers who remain willfully blind to the impacts of their wanderings.
—CBS News, 1 May 2026
The judge also found that Madigan lied repeatedly and willfully when testifying in his own defense during the trial.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Tammy Machado is suspected of mortgage fraud and two counts of willfully making a false return under penalty of perjury.
—Sacbee.com, 11 Apr. 2026
Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026
Joshua Booth, 51, was charged with one count of willfully or maliciously torture, maim or mutilate an animal kept for companionship or pleasure causing death, a category B felony under Nevada law, according to the Clark County District Attorney's Office.
—James Powel, USA Today, 15 May 2026
The jury was deadlocked on the special finding that the crime was done willfully, deliberately and with premeditation, the district attorney's office confirmed to PEOPLE.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
At first, this may sound like a willfully perverse way to market a useless product.
—Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 11 May 2026
The jury ruled that Meta willfully violated New Mexico’s unfair practices act and owed $375 million.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 4 May 2026
Some people are happy to roam the world as old tourists, pure consumers who remain willfully blind to the impacts of their wanderings.
—CBS News, 1 May 2026
The judge also found that Madigan lied repeatedly and willfully when testifying in his own defense during the trial.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Tammy Machado is suspected of mortgage fraud and two counts of willfully making a false return under penalty of perjury.
—Sacbee.com, 11 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for willfully
Adverb
-
The Justice Department said last month that UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine intentionally used race for the last three years to discriminate against white and Asian applicants during admissions.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
-
The collection launched Thursday at Christian Louboutin Mount Street boutique in London, with availability intentionally limited to that location before the pairs are offered by appointment at Coco d’Adda’s Milan atelier.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
11 June 2026
Adverb
-
Adding scientists to the corps in the late 1960s, and deliberately recruiting women and Black astronauts in the 1970s, were widely hailed as steps the agency was taking back then towards diversity.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
10 June 2026
-
Although the 78 skeletons found piled atop one another in Vráble could suggest some kind of massacre took place, the researchers said their analyses so far indicate they were deliberately interred that way, potentially as part of a Neolithic cultural tradition.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Willfully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/willfully. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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