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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

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
Verb
Director Rob Savage tells EW that ‘the film gods willed it’ for Chastain to play these dual roles. — Gerrad Hall, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Aug. 2026 Evans willed his way to an even brawl before Dominik Mysterio interfered with a cheapshot. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Noun
Former gang members took the stand, some against their own will, and observers waited to see if Knight, the co-founder of Death Row Records, would testify. — Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026 She was accused of willfully violating a Presidential Executive Order, the orders of the DHS Secretary, circumventing leadership, and frustrating the will of the American people. — Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 13 Oct. 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
  • Composer Ghulam Mohammed died in 1968 after writing the songs, leaving Naushad to complete the background score.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The collection launches with Seeded Natural, an unbleached, undyed fabric that leaves the cotton’s own seeds visible in the weave.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of leave
Verb
  • Rukhsar went to the set every day because her father wanted her there.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Al Hassan wants renewal to happen automatically without needing to apply.
    — Inzamam Rashid, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of want
Noun
  • Having dressed numerous actresses throughout her career, Chiuri sees a shift in red carpet culture toward individualized creations and, more recently, greater restraint.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • In an era when high-performance vehicles often grow larger, heavier, and more complex with each successive generation, part of the Carrera T’s appeal lies in its restraint.
    — Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of restraint
Noun
  • As private longing collides with honor and social codes, each character has to reckon with what their choices cost.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The choices are housed in the Atelier Vivier MTO cabinet, a silver console containing the available materials and hardware, while a digital component allows clients to visualize combinations before production begins.
    — Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of choice
Verb
  • Charles Hall later bequeathed the property to his wife and children when his health declined, family said.
    — Anna Ortiz, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of bequeath
Verb
  • Why are all these female characters just there to please the man?
    — Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • And sore must be the storm indeed that can abash the foliage fiesta that pleases so many eyes.
    — Dana Kelley, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of please
Noun
  • Lydia obviously provides some support, ballast and encouragement, determination for him.
    — Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Any value or meaning your creative work will ever have begins with your determination to actually do it.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of determination
Noun
  • Stewart said that playing free will help the defense build on its success.
    — Jordan Puente, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026
  • To those who would never run a 5K of their own free will, this probably sounds like a spooky nightmare.
    — Stephanie Williams, Washington Post, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of free will

Phrases Containing will

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wiling
will
willed
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Cite this Entry

“Will.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/will. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about will

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