will 1 of 2

verb

ˈwil How to pronounce will (audio)
Definition of willnext
1
as in to leave
to give by means of a will willed their house to their adult children

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2
as in to want
to see fit do as you will—I wash my hands of the whole affair

Synonyms & Similar Words

will

2 of 2

noun

ˈwil How to pronounce will (audio)
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

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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
Verb
Given all that, Skubal did his best to ignore the symptoms, to will them away. — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 22 July 2026 With fervent editing, careful scene geography, and assured direction, the walk before the run can be tense enough to send viewers crawling out of their seats, willing the fugitive onscreen to get a move on already. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 July 2026
Noun
These rules are set to maintain decorum, determine the will of the majority, preserve the rights of the minority, and facilitate the orderly transaction of business. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026 The outlet reported that his will, which was last updated in 2013, had named five of his own nieces and nephews and 14 on Parton's side. — Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for will
Recent Examples of Synonyms for will
  1. leave
  2. want
  3. restraint
  4. choice
  5. bequeath
  6. please
  7. determination
  8. free will
Verb
  • Fall summons the urge to nest, and as temperatures drop, so does the desire to leave the house.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Government debt makes up more than 200% of its gross domestic product, leaving its finances highly sensitive to rising borrowing costs.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of leave
Verb
  • With a hot war raging in Ukraine, these journalists don’t want to ask for anyone’s sympathy, which in turn heightens their alienation and frustration.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
  • After Joplin police reached out to the FBI, the campaign manager told federal authorities that Ross wanted the drugs planted in Secker’s car or purse while Ross was on vacation in South Carolina, the affidavit alleges.
    — Ava Kelley, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of want
Noun
  • If the answer is yes, then waiting ceases to be a strategy of restraint and begins to look like gradual erosion of power and strength.
    — Hamidreza Azizi, Time, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Meghna Gulzar has a very distinctive voice and an ability to approach difficult subjects with both restraint and intensity.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of restraint
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
Verb
  • More than a century after a rare painting, recently attributed to Gian Lorenzo Bernini, was bequeathed to the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien in 1920, the painting, Portrait of an Old Man, will go on display on December 2, per reports.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Youthful ambition bequeathed them unpredictably shifting time signatures, a daunting nylon-string intro, some odd musical shifts during the guitar-solo section, and a long list of other complexities.
    — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of bequeath
Verb
  • Investor-pleasing language can substitute for a distinctive customer system.
    — Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The trust’s president and CEO, Brent Leggs, said the group was disappointed with the decision but pleased with Roberts’ dissent.
    — Lindsay Whitehurst, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of please
Noun
  • The conference said its rule would apply independently of the status of NCAA eligibility determinations.
    — Aaron Beard, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • In his ruling Gayles rejected the government’s argument that Vorbe could be held in mandatory detention without a bond hearing simply because of Rubio’s determination in a letter.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of determination
Noun
  • Many studies have shown that conservatives tend to favor individual responsibility and free will as an explanation for people’s successes and failures.
    — Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Relatedly, Angel is much more concerned with the idea of fate and free will than Buffy is.
    — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of free will

Phrases Containing will

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will
willed
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Cite this Entry

“Will.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/will. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on will

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about will

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