WILLINGNESS Synonyms: 64 Similar and Opposite Words

willingness

noun

Definition of willingness

as in enthusiasm

cheerful readiness to do something his unhesitating willingness to take on the tough assignments has earned him the status of the president's right-hand man

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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 willingness His willingness to move to a corner outfield spot could be among them. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 9 Oct. 2026 What’s made this franchise so beloved has been its willingness to go on that journey with its young characters, maturing and deepening and changing without losing that initial childlike sense of hope and joy. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026 Bowles credits McCollum’s willingness to study opponents more for his success this season. — ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026 Hamas, which has been decimated but not yet unseated, has so far shown relative restraint and a willingness to absorb regular hits, including a series of assassinations of its members and regular airstrikes by Israel. — Khaled Elgindy, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2026 Still, her willingness to enjoy a hostile road crowd offers a useful perspective in a league where interactions with spectators have become such a consuming subject. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026 Saar, in his statement, presented the agreement as a demonstration of Israel's willingness to respond to measures taken against it. — Dov Lieber, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026 That means taking bold swings, alongside crowd-pleasers, with a steady willingness to push boundaries. — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026 Savio The Brazilian is still finding his feet but already feels like an important player, offering pace, directness and a willingness to take on his man — qualities lacking in many of his team-mates. — Dan Kilpatrick, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for willingness

Noun

Zelensky does not appear to be in a rush to hold elections and the public has shown little enthusiasm for heading to the polls as bombs fly overhead.

— Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2026
The strongman is failing, even as the opposition struggles to inspire a great deal of conviction and enthusiasm.

— Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of enthusiasm

Noun

The Commonwealth’s alacrity in its pursuit of the case against Clancy is not, in itself, reason to give credence to any of the TikTok reconstructions of the crime scene.

— Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026
Quenneville and Killorn emphasized enthusiasm and alacrity, with Killorn cautioning against attention to detail transforming into something more obsessive.

— Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 13 May 2026

Definition of alacrity

Noun

One such moment is, in fact, the film’s conclusion, which is similarly open-ended, but without earning enough goodwill to promise a sequel.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
That goodwill could be diminished as the losses pile up and the Flyers show little spirit in the blowout losses.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of goodwill

Noun

De Hek, who exposes transnational scams on his blog and YouTube channel with relentless zeal, told me Pakistan’s fake companies offering literary services operate in a similar fashion to India’s scam call centers.

— Snigdha Poonam, The Dial, 13 Oct. 2026
Hartnett hits d’ose hard Ds with zeal, making every singular verb plural while wearing the hell out of his fisherman’s hats.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of zeal

Noun

Young wing players including Adou Thiero and Cameron Carr have also impressed coaches and teammates with their athleticism and eagerness to learn.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
In addition to SpaceX’s own eagerness to begin launching the Starlink V3 megaconstellation, NASA has also contracted the vehicle as a lunar lander for the Artemis program.

— Josh Dinner, Space.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of eagerness

Noun

Still, Joe’s criticism of Nathan’s negative energy is fair, particularly when his defeatist attitude is contrasted with Aesha’s absolute gameness.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 4 Aug. 2026
De Shields arrived first, wearing a buffalo-plaid toque and a mien of utter gameness.

— Henry Alford, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025

Definition of gameness

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willingly

willingness

williwaw

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“Willingness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/willingness. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of willingness

noun

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