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.
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
Noun
Does the Obama Foundation have the financial wherewithal to complete its project? Michael Rachlis, WSJ, 17 Aug. 2022 However the investment group shapes up, Walton had the financial wherewithal to win the auction all on his own, despite the booming value and acquisition cost of an NFL franchise. Parker Gabriel, USA TODAY, 8 June 2022 In addition to evaluating the affordable housing proposals and the wherewithal of the individual teams to develop a major arena, the city also took into consideration subsidies and financial assistance sought by the developers. Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Aug. 2022 Profits from Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine have given the company the wherewithal to make more deals, investors say. Gregory Zuckerman, WSJ, 19 Aug. 2022 While Oregon largest utilities have the wherewithal and customer base to make these investments, the state’s 36 consumer or publicly owned utilities, many serving rural areas with high fire risk, don’t operate at the same scale.oregonlive, 22 June 2022 And his endorsement will test the degree to which the former president has the wherewithal to lead them.New York Times, 30 July 2022 The people being interviewed are in a state of shock and don’t have the wherewithal to stop the reporters. Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 18 July 2022 But the addition of minority owner Blitzer potentially gives the Guardians the wherewithal to buy out the remaining arbitration years, and perhaps even a free agent year, with multi-year deals for the right players. Jim Ingraham, Forbes, 27 June 2022 See More