willing 1 of 2

1
2
3

willing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of will

Synonym Chooser

How is the word willing different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of willing are deliberate, intentional, and voluntary. While all these words mean "done or brought about of one's own will," willing implies a readiness and eagerness to accede to or anticipate the wishes of another.

willing obedience

When is deliberate a more appropriate choice than willing?

The words deliberate and willing are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, deliberate implies full consciousness of the nature of one's act and its consequences.

deliberate acts of sabotage

When is it sensible to use intentional instead of willing?

The words intentional and willing can be used in similar contexts, but intentional stresses an awareness of an end to be achieved.

the intentional concealment of vital information

When could voluntary be used to replace willing?

While in some cases nearly identical to willing, voluntary implies freedom and spontaneity of choice or action without external compulsion.

a voluntary confession

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of willing
Adjective
Shrivastava said Indeed’s job posting data shows continued strong demand for doctors among employers willing to help with the visa sponsorship process. Phillip Reese, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025 By series’ end, the two are willing to give up everything for one another. Kayti Burt, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones continued his hot start to the 2025 season in relief of Brock Purdy on Thursday night, willing his team to a 26-23 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025 Chase Daniel joins Dan Patrick to discuss Arch Manning struggling, Caleb Williams trying to do too much, Dak Prescott willing his team to victory in Week 2, Patrick Mahomes needing more help from his teammates and more. Andrew Greif, NBC news, 21 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for willing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for willing
Adjective
  • Kerzka cleaned blood off the floor so the area would be ready for more patients.
    Georgea Kovanis, Freep.com, 5 Oct. 2025
  • The next hitter, Marsh, was ready for a two-strike fastball, smoking a 100 mph pitch up the box for a single.
    Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Bitcoin is up about 25% this year, rising as more Wall Street institutions embrace the cryptocurrency and global investors begin to view it as a reputable portfolio allocation and not just a quick trading vehicle.
    Fred Imbert, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Its silicone design sits comfortably on the face, while quick preset modes make treatments simple to fit into daily life.
    Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
  • Ross and the unit's six other horses are responsible for helping the police handle crowd control, whether its amid the thousands stumbling through Lower Broadway or the rush of 65,000 fans entering or leaving Nissan Stadium for a Titans game.
    Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The Senate also passed, by wide margins, legislation already passed by the House that will remove the 6% sales tax from fuel sales and raise the fuel tax by 20 cents per gallon, leaving the price motorists pay at the pump about the same.
    Paul Egan, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Those wanting to stream the show live can do so with a Peacock premium subscription, or stream new episodes the next day with a basic Peacock subscription.
    Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Given no choice, María Ángeles acquiesces to her daughter’s wishes and moves into the seniors’ home, where a hilarious exchange with a hairdresser wanting to chop off her long silver tresses typifies her iron-willed refusal to settle in.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The coaches may be even less inclined to start Comrie more if the defense struggles without Samberg.
    The Athletic NHL, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
  • If the labor market shows signs of resiliency, the central bank may be less inclined to cut its benchmark rate.
    Sean Conlon,Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • What to Know Several companies have issued voluntary recalls of shrimp products suspected of possible Cs-137 contamination.
    Matt Cannon, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
  • What’s desperately needed, Sisti said, are comprehensive investments in mental health — Housing First programs, funding to build up a mental health care workforce, and an easily accessible and coordinated system of voluntary treatment that prevents people from deteriorating on the streets.
    Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Willing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/willing. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on willing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!