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    wil·ly-nil·ly
    [ˌwilēˈnilē]
    adverb
    willy-nilly (adverb)
    1. whether one likes it or not:
      "he would be forced to collaborate willy-nilly"
    2. without direction or planning; haphazardly:
      "politicians expanded spending programs willy-nilly"
    Origin
    early 17th century: later spelling of will I, nill I ‘I am willing, I am unwilling’.
    Translate willy-nilly to
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    Similar and Opposite Words
    adverb
    1. whether one likes it or not:
      of necessity
      necessarily
      nolens volens
      like it or not
      perforce
      whether one likes it or not
      one way or the other
      like it or lump it
    2. without direction or planning; haphazardly:
      haphazardly
      at random
      randomly
      without planning
      without method
     
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  1. Informal adverb and adjective
    An informal adverb and an adjective, willy-nilly can be used to describe a situation, action, decision, or event that happens or is done haphazardly, randomly, carelessly, chaotically, and without planning, direction or order.

    Willy-nilly (idiom) - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willy-nilly_(idiom)
    willy-nilly adverb or adjective wil·​ly-nil·​ly ˌwi-lē-ˈni-lē Synonyms of willy-nilly 1 : by compulsion : without choice 2 : in a haphazard or spontaneous manner

    Willy-nilly Definition & Meaning - Merria…

    www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/willy-nilly
    willy-nilly [ wil-ee- nil-ee ] show ipa See synonyms for willy-nilly on Thesaurus.com adverb in a disorganized or unplanned manner; sloppily. whether one wishes to or not; willingly or unwillingly: He'll have to do it willy-nilly.

    WILLY-NILLY Definition & Meaning | Dic…

    www.dictionary.com/browse/willy-nilly
     
  2. Merriam Webster
    https://www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › willy-nilly

    Willy-nilly Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

     
  3. Phrasefinder
    https://www.phrases.org.uk › meanings › willy-nilly.html

    Willy-nilly - Meaning & Origin Of The Phrase

    The expression ‘willy nilly’ is now most commonly used to mean ‘haphazard’ – although that wasn’t its original meaning. The second, ‘in an undecided, haphazard manner’, meaning of willy-nilly arrives from the first.

  4. Cambridge Dictionary
    https://dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english › willy-nilly

    WILLY-NILLY | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

  5. Wikipedia
    https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Willy-nilly_(idiom)

    Willy-nilly (idiom) - Wikipedia

  6. Collins Dictionary
    https://www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english › willy-nilly

    WILLY-NILLY definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

  7. People also ask
    What does Willy-Nilly mean?
    The meaning of WILLY-NILLY is by compulsion : without choice. How to use willy-nilly in a sentence.

    Willy-nilly Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

    merriam-webster.com
    What does 'willy-nilly' mean?
    Willy-nilly means something that happens whether you are willing or unwilling to do it. It refers to doing something haphazardly, without reason or order, and by compulsion. For example, 'Each side was drawn willy-nilly into the battle'.

    willy-nilly meaning, origin, example, sentence, history - The Idioms

    theidioms.com
    What is a willy nilly adverb?
    This adverb is perfect for describing something done without any planning, like when the neighborhood kids grab instruments and parade willy-nilly up and down streets and through people's backyards. Willy-nilly comes from the obsolete phrase will I, nill I, or "I am willing, I am unwilling."

    Willy-nilly - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com

    vocabulary.com
    Why is willy nilly used today?
    Willy-nilly is still used by modern authors to express the themes, such as inevitability, chance, and lack of control. Because of its extensive use in the literature and its ability to convey various meanings, the phrase is useful for writers who want to delve deeper into the human experience.

    Willy-Nilly (Meaning & Examples In Literature) - EnglishLeaflet

    englishleaflet.com
    What does Nill I mean?
    From will I, nill I (also with ye or he instead of I), meaning “ [if] I am willing, [or if] I am not willing.” See will (“to desire, wish”), nill (“to not desire, to be unwilling”). willy-nilly (comparative more willy-nilly, superlative most willy-nilly)

    willy-nilly - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

    en.wiktionary.org
    What is willy-nilly adverb?
    Definition of willy-nilly adverb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary whether you want to or not She was forced willy-nilly to accept the company's proposals. Questions about grammar and vocabulary? Find the answers with Practical English Usage online, your indispensable guide to problems in English. in a careless way without planning

    willy-nilly adverb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage

    oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com
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  8. Dictionary
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    WILLY-NILLY Definition & Meaning - Dictionary.com

  9. The Free Dictionary
    https://www.thefreedictionary.com › willy-nilly

    Willy-nilly - definition of willy-nilly by The Free Dictionary

  10. Oxford English Dictionary
    https://www.oed.com › dictionary › willy-nilly_adv

    willy-nilly adverb & adjective - Oxford English Dictionary

  11. Vocabulary.com
    https://www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › willy-nilly

    Willy-nilly - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com

  12. The Free Dictionary
    https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com › Willy+nilly

    Willy nilly - Idioms by The Free Dictionary

  13. Oxford Learner's Dictionaries
    https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › ...

    willy-nilly adverb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage ...

  14. Collins Dictionary
    https://www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english-word › willy-nilly

    WILLY-NILLY - Meaning & Translations | Collins English Dictionary

  15. Cambridge Dictionary
    https://dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary › english › willy-nilly

    WILLY-NILLY | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

  16. Collins Dictionary
    https://www.collinsdictionary.com › us › dictionary › english › willy-nilly

    WILLY-NILLY definition in American English - Collins Online …

  17. GRAMMARIST
    https://grammarist.com › words › willy-nilly

    Willy-Nilly – Meaning, Origin and Examples - GRAMMARIST

  18. Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online
    https://www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › willy-nilly

    willy-nilly | meaning of willy-nilly in Longman Dictionary of ...

  19. Wiktionary
    https://en.wiktionary.org › wiki › willy-nilly

    willy-nilly - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

  20. The Idioms
    https://www.theidioms.com › willy-nilly

    willy-nilly meaning, origin, example, sentence, history - The Idioms

  21. englishleaflet.com
    https://englishleaflet.com › willy-nilly-meaning-examples

    Willy-Nilly (Meaning & Examples In Literature) - EnglishLeaflet

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