WILLINGLY Synonyms: 35 Similar and Opposite Words

willingly

adverb

Definition of willingly

as in rather

by choice or preference I would not willingly eat liver, but sometimes I have no choice

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 willingly The film’s central question, as Coon sees it, is why someone might willingly abandon a conventional life for an alternative community. — Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026 For some activists, willingly accepting arrest becomes another visible demonstration of commitment. — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 1 Oct. 2026 Current law says that if an accuser knowingly and willingly drinks too much, there is no crime for someone else to take advantage of the accuser’s incapacitation. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026 Council member Dale Reynolds, who first made the motion to approve the ordinance, questioned whether there was any incentive for the public to willingly register their bikes. — Noah Daly, Idaho Statesman, 23 Sep. 2026 The front end simply carves into turns with the slightest shift of body position, leaning over willingly enough to eliminate conscious thought and hesitation right out of the gate. — Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2026 Mahomes willingly sandwiched his body between two defenders for a 15-yard touchdown on a scramble. — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2026 Riggle noted that people may be unaware of the danger that Stewart willingly placed himself in while serving his country. — Ashley Hume , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2026 But the very act of putting on a wearable—of willingly adorning oneself with a tiny computerized narc—is an act of surrender. — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for willingly

Adverb

After a rather lengthy political battle, Bethan Vaughan triumphs over an antisemitic and xenophobic candidate to become only the second PM during the run of The Diplomat.

— Peter White, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
El Niño is not a storm that hits at a particular location, but rather a long duration phenomenon that tilts the odds in favor of extreme weather and climate events for certain areas.

— Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of rather

Adverb

Yet some restaurants in Atlanta have voluntarily shut down for a week or more in recent months.

— Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 9 Oct. 2026
The first time, in 2025, a judge agreed to temporarily halt a more limited version from taking effect, and the Health and Human Services Department voluntarily withdrew the plan after losing on appeal.

— Tara Bannow, STAT, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of voluntarily

Adverb

The present ideal isn’t perfection, but a kind of rule-breaking individualism, preferably with an IYKYK spin.

— Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026
Pneumonic plague is treated with powerful antibiotics, preferably within 24 hours of the first symptoms, the Cleveland Clinic said.

— Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of preferably

Adverb

Mosquitoes and infected people can move freely from one country to another, and success requires complex coordination between the governments.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026
But as that approach began to deliver diminishing returns, and freely available human data started to dry up, the labs have leaned much more on post-training and reinforcement learning.

— Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of freely

Adverb

The four-year program is designed to prep students for a myriad of fields — modern theme park design firms work not only on new attractions but readily contribute to museums, zoos, immersive marketing events and more.

— Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Many of the atoll's reefs have since recovered, but some didn't bounce back as readily.

— Lauren Sommer, NPR, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of readily

Browse Nearby Words

willing

willingly

willingness

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“Willingly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/willingly. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of willingly

adverb

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