Search results
- Dictionarywilly-nilly/ˌwɪlɪˈnɪli/
adverb
- 1. whether one likes it or not: "he would be forced to collaborate willy-nilly" Similar
- 2. without direction or planning; haphazardly: "politicians expanded spending programmes willy-nilly" Similar
Powered by Oxford Dictionaries
WILLY-NILLY definition: 1. If something happens willy-nilly, it happens even if the people who are involved do not want it…. Learn more.
The meaning of WILLY-NILLY is by compulsion : without choice. How to use willy-nilly in a sentence.
If someone does something willy-nilly, they do it in a careless and disorganized way, without planning it in advance.
If something happens willy-nilly, it happens even if the people who are involved do not want it to happen: Both sides were drawn, willy-nilly, into the conflict. without any order: She threw her clothes willy-nilly into a drawer. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Unwilling and reluctant. arsed.
Willy-nilly definition: in a disorganized or unplanned manner; sloppily.. See examples of WILLY-NILLY used in a sentence.
1. whether one wishes to or not; willingly or unwillingly. 2. in a disorganized or unplanned manner; sloppily. adj. 3. shilly-shallying; vacillating. 4. disorganized; unplanned; sloppy. [1600–10; from the phrase will ye, nill ye.
Something that happens willy-nilly is random or haphazard. If you put your clothes away willy-nilly, it'll take forever to find two matching socks.
Definition of willy-nilly adverb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
Jun 2, 2024 · willy-nilly (comparative more willy-nilly, superlative most willy-nilly) Whether desired or not; without regard for the consequences or the wishes of those affected; whether willingly or unwillingly. Synonyms: (archaic) nilly-willy, nolens volens
adverb. Whether one wishes it or not; willingly or unwillingly. Webster's New World. Whether desired or not. Wiktionary. Without order or plan; haphazardly. American Heritage. In a disordered way; helter-skelter. Webster's New World. Without regard for consequences or the will of those affected. So people chasing money churn out novels willy-nilly.
