Willy Nilly Meaning, Synonyms with Example

Willy Nilly Meaning: “Willy-nilly” is an idiomatic expression that means doing something haphazardly or unplanned without much thought or consideration. Moreover, it often suggests a lack of order or control and implies that the action is impulsive or random. To know more about the willy-nilly idiom and its meaning with examples, continue reading the blog article below.

Willy Nilly Idiom Meaning

As per the Cambridge Dictionary, willy-nilly explains people involved in a situation doing things haphazardly or do not want an outcome to happen. For example, “She threw her belongings willy-nilly into a bag.”

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Usage with Examples

Furthermore, in some contexts, “willy-nilly” can also mean “whether one likes it or not” or “whether one wants to or not,” indicating that something is inevitable or cannot be avoided. Here are a few examples of willy nilly idiom mentioned below:

• He was so disorganized that he threw his clothes into the suitcase willy-nilly.
• Sarah decorated her room willy-nilly, placing items wherever they fit.
• The company’s restructuring plan seemed to reassign employees willy nilly, without a clear rationale.
• The children grabbed toys willy-nilly from the toy chest, creating a mess in the playroom.
• In the rush to finish the project, they painted sections of the wall willy-nilly, resulting in uneven coverage.
• The sudden rainstorm soaked pedestrians willy-nilly as they scrambled for cover.
• The children ran through the park willy-nilly, laughing and playing in no particular direction.
• The construction crew left their tools scattered willy-nilly, creating a safety hazard at the worksite.

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12+ Synonyms and Similar Words to Willy Nilly

Here are some synonyms for the idiom willy nilly:

1. Haphazardly
2. Casually
3. Irregularly
4. Informally
5. Erratically
6. Anyhow
7. Helter-Skelter
8. Hit or miss
9. Randomly
10. Capriciously
11. Carelessly
12. Unsystematically
13. Indiscriminately

Willy Nilly Idiom Quiz

The new manager made changes to the company’s structure willy-nilly:

• without consulting the employees.
• helping friends
• finding new employees

Answer: without consulting the employees.

Download PDF for Willy Nilly Quizzes!

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