1
as in rather
by choice or preference
I would not willingly eat liver, but sometimes I have no choice
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in voluntarily
of one's own free will
I willingly made the campaign contribution; no one pressured me into doing so
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of willingly
Each comes to understand that the rules that prevailed during calmer times no longer hold, that to cling to them is to willingly accept privation and defeat.
—
Tope Folarin, The Atlantic, 8 Nov. 2025
The Michigan victim thought her love interest was seriously injured in an explosion while working on an oil rig — and willingly rushed money to help.
—Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Most national leaders, after all, do not willingly associate themselves with diarrhea.
—Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025
Jan began receiving love letters from Berchtold and willingly wrote back.
—Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
The first rule of power politics is that nobody relinquishes authority willingly.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
But recently, things have changed, with more older Americans switching to renting—whether willingly or as a last-resort option.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Book-Carrie initially blames Lo for disrupting her and Richard’s plan, and willingly holds her hostage at Richard’s behest.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
Bring the Paine The only thing Paine liked less than monarchical rule was its enablers, anyone who relinquished their freedom willingly to an aspiring tyrant.
—Matthew Redmond, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for willingly
Adverb
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Pedro had painted the model in bright colors—red, blue, and yellow—and the circular ballet of the trio against the green jungle didn’t feel out of place; rather, the birds seemed to enjoy the homage being paid to them.—
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Nikita Zadorov rather comically grabbed Chinakhov by the scruff of the neck and dragged him out of the net.—
Adverb
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According to the suit, Gialenes voluntarily placed her hands behind her back and did not resist being handcuffed.—
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Cities are not typically required to have an urban forestry master plan, but many are voluntarily setting tree canopy goals.—
Adverb
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Get yourself a high-quality water bottle, preferably one with a hands-free straw for easy access.—
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The perception is that only like-minded DeSantis partisans, preferably with inside connections, need apply.—
Adverb
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Countries like China let their industries pollute freely, dumping chemicals into rivers, pumping toxins into the air and throwing plastics into the ocean.—
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Harvard University's president took a jab at the school's faculty in a recent podcast, saying that activism in the classroom has led to student fears of speaking freely.—
Adverb
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Furthermore, sometimes passengers get to the gate and don’t have their passports or tickets readily available, which causes even more congestion, slowing the entire boarding process down.—
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Side and accent tables, chests of drawers, buffets, desks, and dining tables are all pieces that stand the test of time and are readily available secondhand.—
Cite this Entry
“Willingly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/willingly. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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