freewill 1 of 2

adjective

ˈfrē-ˌwil How to pronounce freewill (audio)
Definition of freewillnext
as in voluntary
done, made, or given with one's own free will our office staff made a freewill offering for UNESCO

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

free will

2 of 2

noun

as in choice
the act or power of making one's own choices or decisions all of the workers at the homeless shelter are unpaid and are there of their own free 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 freewill
Adjective
All, too, will take place without a live audience and include links for freewill donations to nonprofits supporting Cleveland-area musicians and musical programs during coronavirus. — Zachary Lewis, cleveland, 2 June 2020 The free community event is sponsored by Spiritual Church of Escondido; freewill offering will be accepted. — San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Aug. 2019
Noun
The patient must be in an advanced or terminal stage, experiencing pain that cannot be relieved or is unbearable, and seeking lethal medication of their own free will. — ABC News, 15 July 2026 The referee then has to stand in front of the monitor, hands on hips, and go through a charade of free will. — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for freewill
Recent Examples of Synonyms for freewill
  1. voluntary
  2. choice
  3. volunteer
  4. will
  5. willing
Adjective
  • The center had been a free, voluntary resource for state, local, tribal and territorial election office employees to receive the latest intelligence how bad actors are targeting election infrastructure.
    — Jenna McLaughlin, NPR, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Yolanda Marodi previously pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the death of an estranged partner in 2003 and served roughly a decade in prison.
    — Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of voluntary
Noun
  • Nick Pope is also still on Tyneside, even though he has been relegated to third-choice goalkeeper and was made available.
    — George Caulkin, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • That choice could help Antares avoid developing every component specifically for nuclear use.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of choice
Adjective
  • Within the past couple of years, the group has become a part of Arrowhead Kingdom, an all-volunteer national network of Chiefs fan groups.
    — Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2023
  • That’s noteworthy for a show based at a high-school auditorium in Litchfield and run by a staff that is almost entirely volunteer, including the show’s star and its producer.
    — Susan Dunne, Hartford Courant, 18 Aug. 2022
Definition of volunteer
Noun
  • Estate planning, including wills and powers of attorney, is vital to ensure wishes are honored during incapacity or death.
    — Cicely Jones, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • If, as Jimmy Connors has said, tennis is boxing at ninety feet—a lonely battle of wills that punishes the slightest lapse in concentration—Eala’s southpaw forehand drives resemble Pacquiao’s blazing left hooks.
    — Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of will
Adjective
  • God willing, that place will be juvenile court, where the lives of these young people can be respected and honored.
    — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
  • That’s because content companies are willing to shell out major bucks to air live, anything-can-happen matches, which tend to draw bigger audiences than scripted fare.
    — Andrew Zucker, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of willing

Browse Nearby Words

freewheeling
freewill
free will
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Freewill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/freewill. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All