-ˌthȯl
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Wherewithal comes from where and withal (meaning "with"), and it has been used as a conjunction meaning "with or by means of which" and as a pronoun meaning "that with or by which." These days, however, it is almost always used as a noun referring to the means or resources a person has at one's disposal—especially financial resources.
Synonyms
Examples of wherewithal in a Sentence
Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 2 July 2024
Even if Congress had the wherewithal to step into the vacuum likely to be left in the wake of the Chevron decision, its capacity to do so would be far short of what would be needed.
—Karen Tumulty, Washington Post, 28 June 2024
Additionally, their schools have the financial wherewithal to adapt to the increasingly pro sports-like world of college sports.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 25 June 2024
Mars’ six-week stay in Taurus provides the wherewithal to defend or improve your home turf.
—USA TODAY, 9 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for wherewithal 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wherewithal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Wherewithal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wherewithal. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
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