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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Recent Examples of willingness
While the Tribune’s coverage was certainly powerful, we are reminded how those words also describe Chicagoans’ willingness to stand up to the many abuses inflicted on the city by this administration.
—
Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
Despite the Republican pushback, the top Republican in the Missouri House signaled a willingness to discuss changes to the law.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 8 May 2026
The agency has indicated a willingness to fly with whatever spacecraft is ready when Artemis 3's time comes.
—Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 8 May 2026
His defense and willingness to push in transition helped the Knicks climb back from a six-point hole and tie the game at 54.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 7 May 2026
The families' willingness to serve as research subjects over the past two decades has allowed scientists to make key discoveries about how Alzheimer's begins, and how certain drugs may slow its progress.
—Jon Hamilton, NPR, 7 May 2026
There’s a willingness among a portion of the population to move forward with an energy transition.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 May 2026
Turner’s abdication of the spotlight marked a significant reversal of a lifelong habit of making headlines, a function of his willingness to say just about anything that crossed his mind during an interview.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 6 May 2026
From ‘Jim Crow’ to ‘authentically’ Black In my view, the willingness of courts to accept rap lyrics as evidence emerges from popular entertainment’s long-standing deployment of negative stereotypes about Black people.
—A.d. Carson, The Conversation, 6 May 2026
Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
Despite the Republican pushback, the top Republican in the Missouri House signaled a willingness to discuss changes to the law.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 8 May 2026
The agency has indicated a willingness to fly with whatever spacecraft is ready when Artemis 3's time comes.
—Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 8 May 2026
His defense and willingness to push in transition helped the Knicks climb back from a six-point hole and tie the game at 54.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 7 May 2026
The families' willingness to serve as research subjects over the past two decades has allowed scientists to make key discoveries about how Alzheimer's begins, and how certain drugs may slow its progress.
—Jon Hamilton, NPR, 7 May 2026
There’s a willingness among a portion of the population to move forward with an energy transition.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 May 2026
Turner’s abdication of the spotlight marked a significant reversal of a lifelong habit of making headlines, a function of his willingness to say just about anything that crossed his mind during an interview.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 6 May 2026
From ‘Jim Crow’ to ‘authentically’ Black In my view, the willingness of courts to accept rap lyrics as evidence emerges from popular entertainment’s long-standing deployment of negative stereotypes about Black people.
—A.d. Carson, The Conversation, 6 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for willingness
Noun
-
However, there is broad consensus that the surge, fueled by enthusiasm around artificial intelligence, can’t last forever and California must address its structural deficit, with spending outpacing revenue collection.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
12 May 2026
-
The morning kicked off with a burst of energy from special guests who highlighted the community’s enthusiasm for hands-on product experiences and quality verification, while the afternoon took on a festive air with lively appearances and crowd engagement.—
Lucy Jones
May 12,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
But alacrity was possible because drafting the Declaration required no study.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
From alacrity to deference Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Franklin D. Roosevelt made their case for war and obtained a formal declaration from Congress within three days in 1917 and within the same afternoon in 1941, respectively.—
Robert Haswell,
The Conversation,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Ukraine retaliated after Russia spurned Kyiv’s ceasefire offer earlier in the week, with President Zelensky accusing Moscow of ignoring goodwill gestures and continuing all military operations against civilians.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
-
China may be happy to deflect these frictions and gain goodwill with Trump by showing its recent diplomacy with Iran as part of a good-faith effort to help Washington end the war.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Even though Kapelovitz claimed that Walgren is biased in favor of the prosecution, his absolute zeal for restoring criminals, no matter how awful their crimes, indicates that he himself may be biased in favor of defendants, which again calls into question his ability to rule impartially.—
Rafael Perez,
Daily News,
7 May 2026
-
Katherine Graham, the then-publisher of the Washington Post, was facing intense pressure to pull support from the investigative zeal of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, her young reporting stars.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Cote’s musical education has taken him around the world, quite literally on the cruise ship, and also through his eagerness to hear every single bit of music there is out there.—
Brendan Menapace,
SPIN,
4 May 2026
-
His movies exude eagerness, energy, verve in storytelling, and unmitigated confidence in the emotional power of the cinema itself.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Part of what becomes apparent watching Chalamet do a press tour is his seemingly unlimited supply of gameness.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
19 Dec. 2025
-
De Shields arrived first, wearing a buffalo-plaid toque and a mien of utter gameness.—
Henry Alford,
New Yorker,
1 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Willingness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/willingness. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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