Definitions for willy-nilly
ˈwɪl iˈnɪl iwil·ly-nil·ly

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. randomly, indiscriminately, haphazardly, willy-nilly, arbitrarily, at random, every which wayadverb

   in a random manner

   "the houses were randomly scattered"; "bullets were fired into the crowd at random"

2. willy-nillyadverb

   without having a choice

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. willy-nillyadverb

   Whether desired or not.

2. willy-nillyadverb

   Without regard for consequences or the will of those affected.

   So people chasing money churn out novels willy-nilly.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. willy-nilly

   Willy-nilly is an adverb that means whether one likes it or not; indiscriminately; in a random manner. It indicates action that is taken or decided impulsively, haphazardly, or unwillingly. For instance, if decisions are made willy-nilly, they are made hastily without any careful thought or planning, often leading to confusion or chaos.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Willy-nilly

   wil′i-nil′i, adv. willing or unwilling.—adj. vacillating. [Will and nill.]

How to pronounce willy-nilly?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say willy-nilly in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of willy-nilly in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of willy-nilly in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of willy-nilly in a Sentence

1. Jason Robnett:

   People need to stop reacting, just stay still, if everybody just sits still until the readiness comes up to the right level, that's better than running willy-nilly in every direction.

2. Andy Purdy:

   It doesn't allow the Chinese government to willy nilly put backdoors in products.

3. Mark Anderson:

   I think the important part to realize that we actually were able to pull off a successful election with checks and balances, we just didn't do willy-nilly e-ballots, they have security that was on them. We have documentation that's on them, we have all the processes to backup and protect why we did what we did.

4. Omar Khayym:

   Into this Universe, and Why not knowing Nor Whence, like Water, willy-nilly flowing And out of it, as Wind along the Waste, I know not Wither, willy-nilly blowing.

5. Chuck Grassley:

   It won't only be what I hear at the state fair, but what I've heard in my county meetings that I hold regularly. Inflation is number one. Some people call it cost of living, saying gas prices. And the fact is, the president is not enforcing law at the border. It just irritates people. You can't come to America without our permission. And we've had 2 million people just willy-nilly cross the border.

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=willy-nilly
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Willy-Nilly
3. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
4. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=willy-nilly