where·with·al
ˈ(h)wer-wi-ˌt͟hȯl 
-ˌthȯl
-ˌthȯl
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Wherewithal comes from where and withal (meaning "with"), and it has been used as a conjunction meaning "with or by means of which" and as a pronoun meaning "that with or by which." These days, however, it is almost always used as a noun referring to the means or resources a person has at one's disposal—especially financial resources.
Synonyms
Examples of wherewithal in a Sentence
Noun
A project as big as this requires a lot of financial wherewithal.
He doesn't have the wherewithal to finish what he started.
Recent Examples on the Web
Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 23 Jan. 2025
In this case, nearly every MLB team had the chance to sign Sasaki; each team had the financial wherewithal to sign Sasaki; each team had the ability to improve their financial position by making savvy moves leading up to the January 15th opening of the international signing period.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
Many would not have had the wherewithal to pursue this for 11 years.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
The other side: Stress tests are meant to assess if banks had the wherewithal to keep lending during extreme, hypothetical economic backdrops.
—Courtenay Brown, Axios, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for wherewithal 
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Noun
The financial wherewithal to buy a home has been slipping away from the average American for years, with high inflation pushing more of your paycheck into things like eggs and gas, while home prices have continued a skyward march.
—Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 23 Jan. 2025
In this case, nearly every MLB team had the chance to sign Sasaki; each team had the financial wherewithal to sign Sasaki; each team had the ability to improve their financial position by making savvy moves leading up to the January 15th opening of the international signing period.
—Dan Freedman, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
Many would not have had the wherewithal to pursue this for 11 years.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
The other side: Stress tests are meant to assess if banks had the wherewithal to keep lending during extreme, hypothetical economic backdrops.
—Courtenay Brown, Axios, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for wherewithal
Dictionary Entries Near wherewithal
Cite this Entry
“Wherewithal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wherewithal. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
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