WILLFULLY Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words

willfully

adverb

Definition of willfully

as in intentionally

with full awareness of what one is doing willfully chose to risk pneumonia by jumping into a freezing lake on a dare

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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 willfully If officials, or private staff acting with them, willfully violated spectators’ constitutional rights, federal criminal charges could follow. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026 And yes, viewers will come away with the impression that Elizabeth Holmes lied her way to fame and fortune, over and over, knowingly and willfully. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 2026 Prosecutors told jurors earlier that Fairbarn willfully caused the bird physical pain, noting feathers were found on the hotel floor. — Jessica Hill, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026 Understandably, Penn struggles to hold these disparate points of focus together with a performance that vacillates between disarmingly dopey and almost willfully ignorant of the realities of the 2000s media landscape. — Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 17 Oct. 2026 Her writing carries a distinctly evolved candor, which is saying something for someone as willfully exposed as Chinouriri. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2026 The 36-year-old Carroll was arrested in February and charged with 20 counts of knowingly and willfully causing another to ingest bodily fluid, plus three counts of malicious destruction of property. — Bryan Lynn, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026 The whole set-up is willfully exaggerated but also looks like the sort of makeshift studio that actually existed in 1927 when the play is set. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 13 Oct. 2026 She was accused of willfully violating a Presidential Executive Order, the orders of the DHS Secretary, circumventing leadership, and frustrating the will of the American people. — Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 13 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for willfully

Adverb

Brendan Nugent, 43, has been charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury and intentionally causing serious injury, as well as the federal crime of harming a public official, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

— CBS News, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
The alleged attacker, 43-year-old Brendan Nugent, faced court on Wednesday charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury and causing harm to a Commonwealth public official.

— Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of intentionally

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willful

willfully

willfulness

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“Willfully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/willfully. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of willfully

adverb

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