as in restraint
the power to control one's actions, impulses, or emotions
trying to summon the willpower to resist buying any more books before finishing the unread ones I already have
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Recent Examples of willpower
To keep yourself safe, remember that the purpose of contrast therapy is to elicit a specific physiological response, not test your willpower.
—
Caroline Tien, SELF, 3 Feb. 2026
For them, quitting smoking is not simply a matter of willpower.
—Timothy Vermillion, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2026
Instead of relying on willpower alone, families now have built-in tools that help reinforce healthy habits.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Is grief, guilt, or shame suppressing your willpower?
—Usa Today, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for willpower
Caroline Tien, SELF, 3 Feb. 2026
For them, quitting smoking is not simply a matter of willpower.
—Timothy Vermillion, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2026
Instead of relying on willpower alone, families now have built-in tools that help reinforce healthy habits.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Is grief, guilt, or shame suppressing your willpower?
—Usa Today, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for willpower
Recent Examples of Synonyms for willpower
Noun
-
Maryland’s budget process is designed to promote transparency and fiscal restraint.—
J.B. Jennings,
Baltimore Sun,
5 Feb. 2026
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The verdict signals that prolonged prone restraint during mental health crises is dangerous, potentially changing how juvenile detention centers handle distressed teens.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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And creativity is essential for self-control and problem-solving.—
Erin Clabough,
The Conversation,
11 Feb. 2026
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Impaired Self-Control Impulsivity and lack of self-control can be symptoms of untreated OSA, especially among children who have the condition.—
Heidi Moawad,
Verywell Health,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Willpower.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/willpower. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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