1
as in rather
by choice or preference
I would not willingly eat liver, but sometimes I have no choice
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Each comes to understand that the rules that prevailed during calmer times no longer hold, that to cling to them is to willingly accept privation and defeat.
—
Tope Folarin, The Atlantic, 8 Nov. 2025
The Michigan victim thought her love interest was seriously injured in an explosion while working on an oil rig — and willingly rushed money to help.
—Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Most national leaders, after all, do not willingly associate themselves with diarrhea.
—Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025
Jan began receiving love letters from Berchtold and willingly wrote back.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
The first rule of power politics is that nobody relinquishes authority willingly.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
But recently, things have changed, with more older Americans switching to renting—whether willingly or as a last-resort option.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Book-Carrie initially blames Lo for disrupting her and Richard’s plan, and willingly holds her hostage at Richard’s behest.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
Bring the Paine The only thing Paine liked less than monarchical rule was its enablers, anyone who relinquished their freedom willingly to an aspiring tyrant.
—Matthew Redmond, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2025
Tope Folarin, The Atlantic, 8 Nov. 2025
The Michigan victim thought her love interest was seriously injured in an explosion while working on an oil rig — and willingly rushed money to help.
—Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Most national leaders, after all, do not willingly associate themselves with diarrhea.
—Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025
Jan began receiving love letters from Berchtold and willingly wrote back.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
The first rule of power politics is that nobody relinquishes authority willingly.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
But recently, things have changed, with more older Americans switching to renting—whether willingly or as a last-resort option.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Book-Carrie initially blames Lo for disrupting her and Richard’s plan, and willingly holds her hostage at Richard’s behest.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
Bring the Paine The only thing Paine liked less than monarchical rule was its enablers, anyone who relinquished their freedom willingly to an aspiring tyrant.
—Matthew Redmond, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for willingly
Adverb
-
This character of aberrance is what makes accidental surfing deaths seem inevitable—or, rather, inexorable, built into the subway’s force.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The lack of competition means the greatest fear many lawmakers have is not the prospect of losing to the other party in a general election but rather being snuffed out in a primary by a more ideological and extreme challenger.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
According to the suit, Gialenes voluntarily placed her hands behind her back and did not resist being handcuffed.—
Austin Sanders,
Austin American Statesman,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Cities are not typically required to have an urban forestry master plan, but many are voluntarily setting tree canopy goals.—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
The Red Sox need a middle-of-the-order power threat, preferably a righty who can launch balls over the Green Monster.—
Zach Pressnell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
A little splash of any kind of milk, preferably a house made nut milk but those are hard to come by.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
30 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Countries like China let their industries pollute freely, dumping chemicals into rivers, pumping toxins into the air and throwing plastics into the ocean.—
Chip Lamarca,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Jan. 2026
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Harvard University's president took a jab at the school's faculty in a recent podcast, saying that activism in the classroom has led to student fears of speaking freely.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
6 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
In comparison to the former, the Misen won’t readily rust, is lighter to wield and quicker to heat, and doesn’t ask for much in terms of maintenance and care.—
Wilder Davies,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
7 Nov. 2025
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Johnson County’s aging population has struggled to age in place and its first-time homebuyers struggled to find starter homes as smaller, more affordable options aren’t readily available.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Willingly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/willingly. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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