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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of willfully
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
In 1872, nearly 50 years before women gained the right to vote, Anthony was arrested for wrongfully and willfully voting.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Dec. 2025
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
In 1872, nearly 50 years before women gained the right to vote, Anthony was arrested for wrongfully and willfully voting.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for willfully
Adverb
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Arson – To unlawfully and intentionally damage or attempt to damage any real or personal property of another person or entity by fire or incendiary device.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
22 Jan. 2026
-
As a piano man tinkers in the corner, tables of Europeans switching effortlessly between languages and wearing outfits that seem intentionally packed for cocktail hour sip martinis and nibble olives.—
Erin Florio,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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Shell, who pleaded not guilty at his arraignment last week in Philadelphia federal court, is one of more than a dozen college athletes accused of accepting bribes from gamblers to take a dive and deliberately tank their performance on the court.—
Scott MacFarlane,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Just ordinary skills, practiced deliberately, in full view of the people counting on you.—
Rodger Dean Duncan,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Willfully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/willfully. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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