1
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for willingly
Adverb
-
Neither of the ladies’ approaches is at all effective and, instead, rather harmful.—
Dominique Fluker,
Essence,
24 July 2025 -
Some can serve as bulking agents, absorbing and retaining water all that stuff moving through your gastrointestinal tract so that in the end, or rather out the end your poo can move more readily.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
Adverb
-
Packed to the brim with all the essential vitamins and minerals a person could need, just two capsules a day (preferably taken with breakfast) provides a solid nutritional foundation without the hassle of juggling multiple supplements.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
26 July 2025
-
Give the plants a spot in a south- or west-facing window, preferably, says Berendsen.—
Michelle Mastro,
Architectural Digest,
23 July 2025
Adverb
-
Some are in an area known as a regulatory floodway, which must be kept unobstructed for water to move freely during a flood.—
Stephen J. Beard,
USA Today,
12 July 2025
-
Conservatives and libertarians rightly endorse robust private charitable activity so that private citizens, acting freely and without government direction, can ameliorate social problems through voluntary action.—
Henry Olsen,
National Review,
10 July 2025
Adverb
-
Spelt 11 grams per cup cooked Known for its nutty, sweet favor, spelt is closely related to wheat and can readily serve as a substitute in most recipes.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
15 July 2025
-
The rescue was complicated by first responders not having a hydraulic rescue tool — often called a Jaws of Life — readily available.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
14 July 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Willingly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/willingly. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share