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

For its first two seasons, “And Just Like That” wasted endless minutes pushing Carrie and her friends into politicized circumstances that tested the audience’s willpower.

From Salon

The word skinny has become a buzz word online, Eve said, with many promoting extreme weight loss under the guise of having "healthy" self control and willpower.

From BBC

A once-revered universal healthcare system is crumbling at every level, sometimes barely getting by on the sheer willpower of doctors and local communities.

From BBC

After embarking on a leek soup detox and discovering her “willpower,” Guiliano loses the weight, keeping it off even after her return to the States.

From Salon

Kennedy has long had it out for these drugs, and repeatedly argues that the only prevention most people need is better willpower.

From Salon

Related Words

• firmness www.thesaurus.com
• grit 
• self-control 
• self-discipline