1
as in ready
having a desire or inclination (as for a specified course of action)
I'm a little confused, but perfectly willing to do as you ask
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in quick
having or showing the ability to respond without delay or hesitation
she's always lent a willing hand whenever a neighbor needed help or a friend a favor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in volunteer
done, made, or given with one's own free will
a willing sacrifice of her limited free time for a good cause
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in leaving
to give by means of a will
willed their house to their adult children
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in wanting
to see fit
do as you will—I wash my hands of the whole affair
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of willing
Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 24 Feb. 2026
Isbel is willing to help the Royals in any capacity.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 24 Feb. 2026
Galip Dalay, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
From his first moments onscreen in a performance of Duracell Bunny physicality and motormouth pushiness, Chalamet conveys the sense of a shameless young man willing himself toward greatness with a combination of chutzpah, amorality and unshakeable self-belief.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for willing
Adjective
Earlier in February, former Howard Hughes CEO David Weinreb reportedly found a tenant willing to pay $177,500 a month for his West Chelsea apartment.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 24 Feb. 2026
Isbel is willing to help the Royals in any capacity.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
Since then, Qatar has come to play the most prominent role in mediating between warring countries and factions within countries, willing itself into a mediation powerhouse spanning the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
—Galip Dalay, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
From his first moments onscreen in a performance of Duracell Bunny physicality and motormouth pushiness, Chalamet conveys the sense of a shameless young man willing himself toward greatness with a combination of chutzpah, amorality and unshakeable self-belief.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for willing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for willing
Adjective
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But a child could ace a standard pediatric screening and still be behind in other areas needed to be ready for kindergarten, Bode said.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
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With a $80K base price – the new normal in this SUV category – the 2026 Nissan Armada is ready to ride.—
Marc D. Grasso,
Boston Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Last year, the swimming portion was canceled because of large swells and the event made a quick pivot by offering a 5K run the night before.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
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The Warriors’ center did not travel with the team for its quick two-game road trip to New Orleans and Memphis.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Within the past couple of years, the group has become a part of Arrowhead Kingdom, an all-volunteer national network of Chiefs fan groups.—
Hannah Kirby,
Journal Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2023
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That’s noteworthy for a show based at a high-school auditorium in Litchfield and run by a staff that is almost entirely volunteer, including the show’s star and its producer.—
Susan Dunne,
Hartford Courant,
18 Aug. 2022
Verb
-
But unlike an initial version of the law that was made public in December, the county will levy no fines on retailers for failing to do so — instead leaving any decision about punishment to a local court.—
John Aguilar,
Denver Post,
25 Feb. 2026
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Crowley’s lawsuit claims Bass and city leaders’ decisions worsened the LAFD’s response to the fire, saying the city historically failed to properly fund the LAFD, leaving the agency under-manned and backlogged in the maintenance of vehicles and other equipment.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Again, without at all wanting to be.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 Feb. 2026
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If your child brings up wanting a smiley piercing, this is a natural opening to talk about why doing something like this at home, without professional training or sterile equipment, carries serious risks.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Vlasic played a steady, responsible game, allowing the more offensively inclined Doughty to create scoring chances on the back end.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
21 Feb. 2026
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Plan a snow blowing routine Some homeowners are more inclined to let a machine do the heavy work for them.—
Christina Cush,
Architectural Digest,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Nearly two-thirds of children detained by ICE were eventually deported, and almost 1 in 10 left the country when their parents accepted voluntary departure, according to an AP analysis of the latest comprehensive data.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
1 Mar. 2026
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Dave Jones, a former California insurance commissioner, opposed the exemption, arguing that the Department of Insurance’s climate disclosure program is described as voluntary and does not require full reporting of emissions.—
Chaewon Chung,
Sacbee.com,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Effectively, Newsom’s slow roll protects him from taking any meaningful actions, thus bequeathing reparations to his successor, like his many other unresolved California issues.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
22 Oct. 2025
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Rewriting society’s decision-making Unlike biased pundits who hem, haw and hedge their bets, Web3 prediction markets cut through noise, bequeathing a signal that feeds into pricing mechanisms themselves.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Willing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/willing. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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