1
as in rather
by choice or preference
I would not willingly eat liver, but sometimes I have no choice
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of willingly
But after all the games missed and all the opportunities lost during the past 10 months, Arenas would never willingly give up another.
—
Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Though the sponsor did not go willingly.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
When a Taylor Swift ticket is priced at a fraction of what a superfan (or hedge fund manager) would willingly pay, a secondary market is inevitable.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2026
Buck claimed Moore willingly participated in the actions.
—City News Service, Daily News, 5 Mar. 2026
Cincinnati also needed to trust Hendrickson’s camp would work willingly to make a deal happen.
—Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Her 6-year-old put hers on willingly.
—Vicki Glembocki, Parents, 28 Feb. 2026
Torres Maldonado then willingly exited the car and was arrested.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
Other clergy have willingly faced arrest for their advocacy on behalf of immigrants, seeing it as a moral calling.
—Laura E. Alexander, The Conversation, 10 Feb. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Though the sponsor did not go willingly.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
When a Taylor Swift ticket is priced at a fraction of what a superfan (or hedge fund manager) would willingly pay, a secondary market is inevitable.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2026
Buck claimed Moore willingly participated in the actions.
—City News Service, Daily News, 5 Mar. 2026
Cincinnati also needed to trust Hendrickson’s camp would work willingly to make a deal happen.
—Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Her 6-year-old put hers on willingly.
—Vicki Glembocki, Parents, 28 Feb. 2026
Torres Maldonado then willingly exited the car and was arrested.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
Other clergy have willingly faced arrest for their advocacy on behalf of immigrants, seeing it as a moral calling.
—Laura E. Alexander, The Conversation, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for willingly
Adverb
-
In other words, the sun may not have arrived in a life-friendly environment purely by chance, but rather as a consequence of the formation of the galactic bar.—
Charles Q. Choi,
Space.com,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The reason the rap got the thumbs up from the crew was not just due to the freestyle stylings of the burgeoning MC, but rather a matter of practicing what everyone had been preaching.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
The conditions were too much for César Pulido, who agreed in February to leave the country voluntarily after more than six months in detention.—
Daniella Silva,
NBC news,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Surveillance, disputes detailed at trial Jurors were also shown body camera footage of early interviews conducted by Greca, in which Dale Warner suggested his wife may have left voluntarily and offered multiple explanations for her disappearance.—
Corey J. Murray,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Take Bar Betty’s checkered past with a grain of salt, preferably on the rim of a margarita.—
Phillip Valys,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Mar. 2026
-
For wide-angle landscape shots using a mirrorless or DSLR camera (preferably full-frame to capture stars around the eclipsed moon), choose a 14mm-35mm lens.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Having multiple players capable of adapting to various roles allows Hayes the flexibility to fill a roster and make tactical changes more freely.—
Melanie Anzidei,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Minnetonka head coach Sean Goldsworthy freely admits to pushing his team hard during regular-season practices.—
Frank Rajkowski,
Twin Cities,
7 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Although blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries are readily available but not in season, their flavor can be lacking.—
Mary Ann Esposito,
Boston Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Director Maggie Gyllenhaal readily admits that the idea that Shelley left some piece of the story unarticulated is a fantasy of hers.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Willingly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/willingly. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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