willy nilly
However it happens
Willy nilly means whether you want to or not, or in a haphazard, disorganized way.
The first sense preserves the original meaning—willing or unwilling: The new policy affects everyone, willy nilly.
The second, now more common, suggests randomness or lack of planning: She scattered papers willy nilly across the desk.
Also spelled willy-nilly.
- indiscriminatelyWithout making distinctions
- inadvertentDone without intention
- randomOccurring without pattern
- arbitraryBased on personal whim
- offhandCasually unrehearsed
without rhyme or reason · catch as catch can · come what may · haphazard · hit-or-miss · unplanned · compulsorily · involuntary · scattershot · all over the place · every which way · for better or worse · slapdash · unmethodical · pell-mell · helter-skelter · here and there · thrown together
willy nillymethodically
In an organized manner
systematically · methodical · orderly · organized · by design
willy nillyselectively
With careful choosing
discriminately · judiciously · choosily · with care · thoughtfully
willy nillydeliberately
Done with intention
intentionally · purposefully · by choice · consciously · on purpose
will, wills, willed, willing, willingly, unwilling, unwillingly, willingness, unwillingness