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

DeLillo has written his share of sturdy female characters, but never in the first person, and never so willingly. — Literary Hub, 12 Nov. 2026

However, there is a price to pay, and our veterans have willingly made the choice to challenge all those who would try to defeat our military, the greatest military in the world. — Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2026

Florida coach Todd Golden, whose father is an attorney, willingly went deep into the weeds to understand the various cases. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 10 Nov. 2026

Or the conveners of this exhibition, who too willingly betray the secrets of artworks, sacrificing complexity to sentimentality? — Kristian Vistrup Madsen, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026

Prosecutors said Salman pledged loyalty to ISIS and willingly participated in its activities. — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026

The woman did so willingly, and there is no allegation that she was forced or tricked. — Jim Defede, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026

Carney remembered Goulding as someone who willingly took on difficult challenges, and Wong as someone his family could always depend on. — Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026

The film’s central question, as Coon sees it, is why someone might willingly abandon a conventional life for an alternative community. — Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026