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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of willpower
And my willpower was often low this year.
—
Big Think, 28 Aug. 2025
The Habit System – Building sustainable daily practices that don't require constant willpower.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
For the Cardinal, success in the ACC is entirely about willpower.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025
But the political willpower to approve changes that would address the issue is in danger without HUD’s backing.
—Lizzie Kane, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for willpower
Big Think, 28 Aug. 2025
The Habit System – Building sustainable daily practices that don't require constant willpower.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
For the Cardinal, success in the ACC is entirely about willpower.
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025
But the political willpower to approve changes that would address the issue is in danger without HUD’s backing.
—Lizzie Kane, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for willpower
Recent Examples of Synonyms for willpower
Noun
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Cox also called for restraint in reaction to Kirk’s assassination, noting that residents of Utah did not riot or loot or engage in violence, and instead held vigils and said prayers.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
12 Sep. 2025
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Despite efforts by the Biden administration to constrain the spyware market through its executive order, trade and visa restrictions, and sanctions, the industry has continued to operate largely without restraint.—
Vas Panagiotopoulos,
ArsTechnica,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Applied here, an EED theory would try to show both a genuine loss of self-control and a reasonable explanation for that loss.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
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Using self-control solely to avoid rejection or to mask one’s authentic self can be counterproductive.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Willpower.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/willpower. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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