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
-
Drift racers intentionally oversteer to the point of losing traction while maintaining control of the car.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
5 Feb. 2026
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The data includes accounts that former employees intentionally leave in their old plan, for example, to take advantage of lower fees or stronger creditor protections relative to IRAs.—
Sarah Agostino,
CNBC,
4 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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Njoki claims African fighters were deliberately exposed in dangerous situations as bait for Ukrainian drones.—
Larry Madowo,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
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They were deliberately constructed to justify enslavement, land theft and unequal treatment under the law.—
Rosalind Osgood,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Willfully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/willfully. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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