Synonyms of willy-nilly

willy-nilly

adverb

ˌwi-lē-ˈni-lē 

as in randomly

without definite aim, direction, rule, or method

they were in a hurry, so they just tossed everything into the room willy-nilly, leaving it to be all sorted out later

Synonyms & Similar Words

• randomly
• haphazardly
• at random
• aimlessly
• haphazard
• irregularly
• erratically
• casually
• anyway
• indiscriminately
• arbitrarily
• carelessly
• anyhow
• desultorily
• informally
• capriciously
• helter-skelter
• hit or miss
• promiscuously
• accidentally
• inadvertently
• anywise
• whimsically
• unwittingly
• unintentionally
• unconsciously
• offhandedly
• unpredictably
• fortuitously
• intermittently
• fitfully
• offhand
• disjointedly
• disconnectedly
• higgledy-piggledy
• spottily
• topsy-turvy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• systematically
• methodically
• carefully
• orderly
• formally
• deliberately
• gingerly
• intentionally
• meticulously
• purposely
• purposefully
• punctiliously

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of willy-nilly

But simply draping garments willy-nilly anywhere isn’t your best move because wet laundry needs the right conditions to dry completely. — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 26 Sep. 2026

Both of us need data centers to power our online research, but New York deserves data centers that are run responsibly, not that are allowed to pollute willy-nilly. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026

The ban came after a series of high-profile scooter deaths and an alarming number of devices strewn willy-nilly in neighborhoods across the city. — Shaddi Abusaid, AJC.com, 27 July 2026

Because, despite the company’s anthropomorphized desk-lamp logo, these movies aren’t doling out self-awareness to stuff all willy-nilly. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 18 June 2026

Statistics are trotted out judiciously to make a clear statement, rather than thrown at us willy-nilly. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 11 June 2026

But don't just toss them in the fridge willy-nilly. — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026

No numbers thrown out willy-nilly. — Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 1 Mar. 2026

There are now as many games as there are phones; what used to be a feast that everyone devoured together has been divvied up into a gazillion little snacks gobbled down willy-nilly. — Rand Richards Cooper, Hartford Courant, 8 Jan. 2026