willpower
noun
will·pow·er
ˈwil-ˌpau̇(-ə)r 
: the ability to control one's own actions, emotions, or urges
Alcoholics can't stop drinking through willpower alone: they need to alter behavior … that triggers the impulse to drink.—
James Atlas
James AtlasI'm not talking about facing up to hard work or discipline, as if the problem were faulty willpower or a poor character.—Patricia Hampl
Patricia Hampl
also
: strong determination that allows one to do something difficult
He [Nicolas Sarkozy] … brokered a huge trade deal with China and generally signaled that he could redefine his country through sheer willpower alone. —Bruce Crumley
Bruce Crumley Synonyms
Examples of willpower in a Sentence
The dessert buffet tested my willpower.
He conquered his drinking problem through sheer willpower.
Recent Examples on the Web
For so long people who couldn’t lose weight and keep it off have been told that their willpower simply wasn’t strong enough, says Daniel Drucker, an endocrinologist at the University of Toronto, who researched GLP-1 alongside Mojsov in the 1990s.
—Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 25 June 2024
Use willpower and discipline to bring about positive change.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 21 June 2024
Similar to how Arnold Schwarzenegger manifested his achievements in bodybuilding and film through positive visualization, individual willpower is key to maintaining the drive needed to succeed.
—Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 6 June 2024
Three games to determine whether or not grit, willpower and, well, not much else, can push these depleted but determined Knicks past an Indiana Pacers team that’s evened the second-round series at two games apiece after falling into an 0-2 hole at Madison Square Garden.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 13 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for willpower 
Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 25 June 2024
Use willpower and discipline to bring about positive change.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 21 June 2024
Similar to how Arnold Schwarzenegger manifested his achievements in bodybuilding and film through positive visualization, individual willpower is key to maintaining the drive needed to succeed.
—Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 6 June 2024
Three games to determine whether or not grit, willpower and, well, not much else, can push these depleted but determined Knicks past an Indiana Pacers team that’s evened the second-round series at two games apiece after falling into an 0-2 hole at Madison Square Garden.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 13 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for willpower
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'willpower.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near willpower
Cite this Entry
“Willpower.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/willpower. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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willpower
noun
will·pow·er
ˈwil-ˌpau̇(-ə)r
: strong determination
the temptation tested her willpower
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