1
2
as in to want
to see fit
do as you will—I wash my hands of the whole affair
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in restraint
the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions
she kept her face still by sheer force of will
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in choice
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 will
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 1 Dec. 2025
Even as the home crowd tried to will on the defense, Stafford was able to push Los Angeles down the field.
—Charlotte Observer, 30 Nov. 2025
Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
What’s missing is the political will to prioritize transparency and decentralization.
—Deborah L. Birx, STAT, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for will
Verb
From his first moments onscreen in a performance of Duracell Bunny physicality and motormouth pushiness, Chalamet conveys the sense of a shameless young man willing himself toward greatness with a combination of chutzpah, amorality and unshakeable self-belief.
—Noun
In a modern world where free will is taken as a given, fate might be best understood as the tangle of powers that facilitate or obstruct individual wills.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for will
Verb
-
The departure of Stockton and Warren leaves head coach Spencer Danielson with the task of replacing two secondary coaches.—
-
Members of the Minneapolis City Council, in a joint statement, demanded that ICE leave the city following the shooting.—
Verb
-
If that is what Talamasca wants to be, well, what a blessing!—
-
The key to this classic is making sure cook off all the liquid in the summer squash, because no one wants a watery casserole.—
Noun
-
But restraint does not mean passivity.—
-
The American Conservative was founded on foreign policy restraint, trade realism, and migration sanity in 2002.—
Noun
-
For a more specialized fit, the Petite Wide-leg Pants are an excellent choice for shorter shoppers, while the Curvy Wide-leg Pants are just as comfortable and flattering (and on sale for almost $40 off).—
-
This is evidence that color drenching is a more recent design choice and might not be timeless.—
Verb
-
His mother bequeathed to him her fierceness.—
-
Leon's children filed a civil lawsuit in the Clark County Circuit Court in 2024 claiming that Jamey took money that was bequeathed to them after their father's death in 2018.—
Verb
-
State media in Iran called the protesters terrorists, while Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made a public address on Friday, accusing Iranians of ruining their own streets to please the president of the United States.—
-
Whether waffle or jacquard, bath sheet or bath towel, Egyptian long-staple cotton or Turkish organic cotton, our favorite high-end options aim to please.—
Noun
-
Like her unprecedented sapphire engagement ring, her wedding tiara represented a determination to stay true to herself.—
-
Here in California, our determination to defend our own laws, to hold fast to climate protections and civil rights, felt no longer like partisanship but survival.—
Noun
-
In a modern world where free will is taken as a given, fate might be best understood as the tangle of powers that facilitate or obstruct individual wills.—
-
Assassin’s Creed is described as a high-octane thriller centered on the secret war between two shadowy factions — one set on determining mankind’s future through control and manipulation, while the other fights to preserve free will.—
Cite this Entry
“Will.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/will. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share