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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of willfully
Tammy Machado is suspected of mortgage fraud and two counts of willfully making a false return under penalty of perjury.
—
Sacbee.com, 11 Apr. 2026
His collaborators remained unaware — or kept willfully oblivious — about the allegations.
—Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2026
The judge also found that Madigan lied repeatedly and willfully when testifying in his own defense during the trial.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
There are people who find dogs gross — the health risk posed by dogs in restaurants is low but not zero — and people whose grievance isn’t with the dogs per se but with the owners who willfully ignore the ways their furry beasts impose upon the world.
—Rachel Sugar, Curbed, 8 Apr. 2026
Cruz and Ramirez each previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to willfully infringe a copyright, court records show.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2026
According to the suit, Nike’s actions show that the brand intentionally, willfully, recklessly and/or negligently failed to take reasonable and adequate measures to protect consumer data.
—Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 7 Apr. 2026
Under her tenure, the Department has lost centuries of professional experience, willfully violated federal law and judicial orders alike, while at the same time, hiding millions of documents linked to the Epstein files in a massive cover-up.
—Dan Mangan, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026
Overtopping its banks in flood, willfully changing its course, meandering without any regard for imaginary lines written across terrain, water presents a serious problem to those who police those imaginary lines.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 30 Mar. 2026
Sacbee.com, 11 Apr. 2026
His collaborators remained unaware — or kept willfully oblivious — about the allegations.
—Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2026
The judge also found that Madigan lied repeatedly and willfully when testifying in his own defense during the trial.
—Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
There are people who find dogs gross — the health risk posed by dogs in restaurants is low but not zero — and people whose grievance isn’t with the dogs per se but with the owners who willfully ignore the ways their furry beasts impose upon the world.
—Rachel Sugar, Curbed, 8 Apr. 2026
Cruz and Ramirez each previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to willfully infringe a copyright, court records show.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 7 Apr. 2026
According to the suit, Nike’s actions show that the brand intentionally, willfully, recklessly and/or negligently failed to take reasonable and adequate measures to protect consumer data.
—Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 7 Apr. 2026
Under her tenure, the Department has lost centuries of professional experience, willfully violated federal law and judicial orders alike, while at the same time, hiding millions of documents linked to the Epstein files in a massive cover-up.
—Dan Mangan, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026
Overtopping its banks in flood, willfully changing its course, meandering without any regard for imaginary lines written across terrain, water presents a serious problem to those who police those imaginary lines.
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for willfully
Adverb
-
Colorado is the only state in the country where someone who kills due to extreme recklessness receives the same sentence — life without parole — as someone who kills intentionally and after deliberation.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Both sides accuse the other of intentionally attacking civilian targets.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Given the importance of preserving relations with the FCC, which has a say over a range of local station matters and must approve any mergers involving the transfer of broadcast licenses, LeGeyt has deliberately avoided a direct clash with his Washington counterpart.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The idea of food apartheid forces us to zoom out and consider how many systems are deliberately built to work against certain consumers based on race and geography.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Willfully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/willfully. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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