as in conscious
made, given, or done with full awareness of what one is doing
a hard-nosed industrialist with a willed indifference to public opinion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in bequeathed
to give by means of a will
willed their house to their adult children
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in pleased
to see fit
do as you will—I wash my hands of the whole affair
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of willed
Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 23 Nov. 2025
Given no choice, María Ángeles acquiesces to her daughter’s wishes and moves into the seniors’ home, where a hilarious exchange with a hairdresser wanting to chop off her long silver tresses typifies her iron-willed refusal to settle in.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025
Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2025
His birth overshadowed by his family’s greatest tragedy, Daniel found succor in movies and willed himself into the dreamworld of Hollywood.
—David Kamp, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for willed
Adjective
Behind a strong willed business demeanor, however, lay a heart of gold.
—Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 23 Nov. 2025
Given no choice, María Ángeles acquiesces to her daughter’s wishes and moves into the seniors’ home, where a hilarious exchange with a hairdresser wanting to chop off her long silver tresses typifies her iron-willed refusal to settle in.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
Nevertheless, slinging the ball around to a bunch of no-names, Mayfield willed the Bucs to a 30-19 win over the 49ers, throwing for 256 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2025
His birth overshadowed by his family’s greatest tragedy, Daniel found succor in movies and willed himself into the dreamworld of Hollywood.
—David Kamp, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for willed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for willed
Adjective
-
In June 2023, the court held that race-conscious admissions programs violated the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment, effectively curtailing the consideration of race in colleges nationwide.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Cost-conscious travelers should note the airport is raising parking rates, including a 40% jump at the Daily Deck, to help fund safety, infrastructure and reliability upgrades, The Charlotte Observer reported.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Complicating matters further, Charles has bequeathed his school to his frenemy Magneto.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Jan. 2026
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Given to Princess Mary as a wedding gift by the County of Lincoln, it was later bequeathed to Queen Elizabeth.—
Nicole Briese,
PEOPLE,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The move – and more, its blunt public announcement – may have pleased Trump world, but turned out to be disastrous for the Post’s business.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Kennedy’s concern with productivity would have pleased Charles Davenport, a powerful leader of 20th-century American eugenics.—
Sarah DiGregorio,
Vanity Fair,
16 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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That deliberate gratitude also trained them to notice all the positive things the other person was doing.—
Jelena Kecmanovic,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
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Nearly all of the 62-second clip appears to be from a conservative video alleging deliberate tampering with voting machines in battleground states as 2020 votes were tallied.—
Bill Barrow,
Fortune,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Nobody wanted to dwell on it but everyone knew what was coming after the 2012-13 skating season.—
Peter Warren,
Houston Chronicle,
14 Feb. 2026
-
That’s exactly the position that Carter Baumler wanted to be in.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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These funds support a voluntary return-home program in which returners receive a stipend for up to seven years.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
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In fact, Lifetouch was the first school photography company to sign a voluntary and enforceable privacy pledge—reaffirming our deep commitment to protecting school communities.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The January transfer window ended with fewer signings than Nottingham Forest might have wished, but not with any shortage of drama.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
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Just as the Founders would have wished!—
Alexandra Petri,
The Atlantic,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Miller has noticed that many diners are following the intended model, stopping at several locations in one night.—
Eva Remijan-Toba,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
-
In January, when Elliott married Blake Murray, their officiant was the intended father.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Willed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/willed. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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