willpower

or will pow·er

[ wil-poh-er ]

noun

1. control of one's impulses and actions; self-control.

willpower

/ ˈwɪlˌpaʊə /

noun

1. the ability to control oneself and determine one's actions
2. firmness of will

Word History and Origins

Origin of willpower¹

First recorded in 1870–75; will ²( def ) + power ( def )

Example Sentences

McCarthy called the nomination “a good deflection,” hinting at a popular Washington theory that Gaetz, even if defeated, could help Trump win approval of other controversial nominees by using up whatever willpower Republican senators have to take on the new president next year.

From Los Angeles Times

The willpower to build more housing often falters in the face of apparently prohibitive costs, political opposition and self-serving incentives, a reality that is playing out on the state and local level.

From Salon

Maybe this means it wasn’t much of a business to begin with, but, then again, neither are most small businesses; they’re all just held together by duct tape and willpower, and hurricanes test the strength of both of those things.

From Slate

Instead it was, "I don't feel hungry... my body was saying you don't want it, it wasn't me using willpower," she says.

From BBC

Sam Bemment, who wrote the report, says the technology for a simple ticketing system already exists but that historically there hasn’t been enough political willpower to put it in place.

From BBC

Related Words

• firmness
• grit
• self-control
• self-discipline