1
as in bequeaths
to give by means of a will
willed their house to their adult children
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in pleases
to see fit
do as you will—I wash my hands of the whole affair
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in choices
the act or power of making one's own choices or decisions
you cannot force me to do anything against my own will
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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 wills
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
The Moon wills the chart and can make a wishy-washy Libra decisive and direct.
—
Lisa Stardust,
Vogue,
14 Feb. 2026
Agnes virtually wills her back to life.
—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
8 Sep. 2025
Emma Hinchliffe,
Fortune,
13 June 2026
Quicken LifeHub is a life organization system that stores key information for your family, including wills, health directives, internet passwords, travel documents and emergency health information.
—
Amy Deyoung,
USA Today,
12 June 2026
The Amazon show dares to dream that romantic love need not be a clash of wills.
—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
10 June 2026
How beneficiary designations align with wills or trusts.
—
Wes Moss,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
My latest novel, The Last Lady B, has a gothic twist (think ghosts and lost wills).
—
Eloisa James,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
Attorneys and advocates say more undocumented parents are drafting wills and guardianship papers, preparing for the possibility that they could be detained, deported or die during enforcement.
—
Monique O. Madan,
Sun Sentinel,
11 May 2026
Fidelity’s guidance on finances after divorce warns that neglecting to update beneficiaries on bank and retirement accounts and life insurance policies is a common error, and that those designations can supersede wills and trusts.
—
Rebecca L. Palmer,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 May 2026
But an attorney who specializes in wills and trusts can point you in the right direction.
—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
In the movie’s fuzzy metaphysics, Shelley wills herself into the consciousness of a character named Ida (also played by Buckley), a young woman angling for survival in 1930s Chicago — a colorful, dangerous world of bawdy lotharios and lethal gangsters.
—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
The Moon wills the chart and can make a wishy-washy Libra decisive and direct.
—
Lisa Stardust,
Vogue,
14 Feb. 2026
Agnes virtually wills her back to life.
—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
In 2010, French Gates cofounded the Giving Pledge, the promise the ultra-wealthy can make to give away their money in their lifetimes or their wills.
—
Emma Hinchliffe,
Fortune,
13 June 2026
Quicken LifeHub is a life organization system that stores key information for your family, including wills, health directives, internet passwords, travel documents and emergency health information.
—
Amy Deyoung,
USA Today,
12 June 2026
The Amazon show dares to dream that romantic love need not be a clash of wills.
—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
10 June 2026
How beneficiary designations align with wills or trusts.
—
Wes Moss,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
My latest novel, The Last Lady B, has a gothic twist (think ghosts and lost wills).
—
Eloisa James,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
Attorneys and advocates say more undocumented parents are drafting wills and guardianship papers, preparing for the possibility that they could be detained, deported or die during enforcement.
—
Monique O. Madan,
Sun Sentinel,
11 May 2026
Fidelity’s guidance on finances after divorce warns that neglecting to update beneficiaries on bank and retirement accounts and life insurance policies is a common error, and that those designations can supersede wills and trusts.
—
Rebecca L. Palmer,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 May 2026
But an attorney who specializes in wills and trusts can point you in the right direction.
—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
29 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wills
Verb
-
The set up leaves California vulnerable to the unpredictable nature of the stock market, dramatic swings in revenue and, in recent years, reliant on poor projections.
-
Durica said the event that shaped the world leaves behind much more than a board game and a marvel of engineering.
Verb
-
Coastal decor darling Serena & Lily brings you the Pacifica modular collection to suit any configuration that pleases you.
-
For something more substantial, Ramsey’s pleases both vegetarians and meat eaters with options such as BBQ brisket sandwich with homemade onion straws or Zucchini Noodle Thai Bowl.
Noun
-
The 34-year-old democratic socialist's choices were pitted against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, also of New York, in what will likely be viewed as a big and successful early test at establishing a new faction within the national party.
-
May said the outcome reflects the consequences of the choices made that night.
Verb
-
Toy Story 5 wishes to keep children in a state of dependency on their toys, just as the franchise itself seeks to keep its aging viewership in a state of perpetual nostalgia.
-
The university then became responsible for remediation work and its daily 24/7 security before the crime scene was torn down against some of the victim families’ wishes ahead of a trial at the end of December 2023.
Verb
-
Think about whether your child wants a one-time experience or a deeper camp-style program over several days.
-
Charles wants peace with his son.
Cite this Entry
“Wills.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wills. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
