Definitions

willed

[wild] / wɪld /

ADJECTIVE

hereditary

Synonyms

STRONGEST

genetic inborn transmitted

WEAK

ancestral bequeathed family genealogical handed-down heritable inbred inheritable inherited lineal maternal paternal patrimonial traditional transmissible

Antonyms

STRONGEST

acquired

ADJECTIVE

uncompelled

Synonyms

WEAK

autonomous chosen deliberate designful discretional elected free free-willed freely gratuitous honorary independent intended intentional opted optional spontaneous unasked unbidden unconstrained unforced unpaid unprescribed volitional volunteer willful wished witting

ADJECTIVE

unforced

Synonyms

WEAK

autonomous chosen deliberate designful discretional elected free free-willed freely gratuitous honorary independent intended intentional opted optional spontaneous unasked unbidden uncompelled unconstrained unpaid unprescribed volitional volunteer willful wished witting

ADJECTIVE

voluntary

Synonyms

STRONGEST

spontaneous

STRONG

chosen free independent volunteer

WEAK

autonomous deliberate designful discretional elected free-willed freely gratuitous honorary intended intentional opted optional unasked unbidden uncompelled unconstrained unforced unpaid unprescribed volitional willful wished witting

Antonyms

WEAK

forced involuntary obligatory unwilling

ADJECTIVE

willful

Synonyms

STRONGEST

conscious deliberate intentional premeditated purposeful

WEAK

contemplated designed intended planned studied unforced volitional willing witting

Antonyms

STRONGEST

accidental unintentional unplanned

WEAK

flexible involuntary unwilling willing yielding

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

For St. Augustine, desire was the bondage of the divided self, which willed the good but somehow willed more strongly not to do it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

He didn’t wander into greatness: he pursued it, willed it, achieved it.

From Slate • Feb. 16, 2026

Even down to the last show, he willed himself, like, “I’m going to do this show.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 9, 2025

It marked a first ever try for Brazil in their debut Women's Rugby World Cup, with Silva willed on by a loud Sandy Park before being mobbed by her team-mates.

From BBC • Sep. 1, 2025

Her legs trembled as she willed them to hold her weight.

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

willed

Example Sentences

Related Words