Synonyms of willingly

willingly

adverb

1

as in rather

by choice or preference

I would not willingly eat liver, but sometimes I have no choice

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rather
• preferably
• readily
• soon
• first
• either
• instead
• fain
• voluntarily
• alternately
• gladly
• alternatively
• optionally
• electively
• obligingly
• wishfully
• desirably

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unwillingly
• involuntarily
• reluctantly
• forcibly
• willy-nilly

2

as in voluntarily

of one's own free will

I willingly made the campaign contribution; no one pressured me into doing so

Synonyms & Similar Words

• voluntarily
• freely
• deliberately
• intentionally
• knowingly
• consciously
• wittingly
• electively
• of one's own accord
• optionally
• acquiescently
• consentingly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• involuntarily
• unconsciously
• reluctantly
• unwittingly
• unwillingly
• unintentionally
• unknowingly

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of willingly

But the very act of putting on a wearable—of willingly adorning oneself with a tiny computerized narc—is an act of surrender. — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026

If Gluck has willingly conceded to the anti-erotic proclivities of his intended audience, Araki has, naturally, set out to defy them. — Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026

Summary Early healthcare software was willingly adopted for its usefulness, unlike Electronic Health Records (EHRs) which required government mandates and billions in incentives for widespread implementation. — Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Would any of those names willingly jump into a crowded situation? — Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026

What happened to the colonists remains unknown, but archaeological finds—including otherwise anachronistic English artifacts on Hatteras Island—give some support to White’s theory that at least some of the colonists relocated willingly. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026

By suggesting that Black women would willingly place their own children in mortal danger for profit, such narratives provided yet another means of humiliating, degrading and dehumanizing African Americans. — The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2026

The advertising industry has willingly accelerated this transition, enjoying a familiar return to the days of the 30-second advertising spot. — Max Tani, semafor.com, 9 Aug. 2026

Tony was a complex person who willingly put himself in the entertainment industry, which can, unfortunately, compress a whole person down into a series of bullet points and memes. — Laurie Woolever, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Aug. 2026