willful

adjective

will·​ful ˈwil-fəl How to pronounce willful (audio)
variants or wilful
1
: obstinately and often perversely self-willed
a stubborn and willful child
2
: done deliberately : intentional
willful disobedience
willfully adverb
willfulness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for willful

unruly, ungovernable, intractable, refractory, recalcitrant, willful, headstrong mean not submissive to government or control.

unruly implies lack of discipline or incapacity for discipline and often connotes waywardness or turbulence of behavior.

unruly children

ungovernable implies either an escape from control or guidance or a state of being unsubdued and incapable of controlling oneself or being controlled by others.

ungovernable rage

intractable suggests stubborn resistance to guidance or control.

intractable opponents of the hazardous-waste dump

refractory stresses resistance to attempts to manage or to mold.

special schools for refractory children

recalcitrant suggests determined resistance to or defiance of authority.

acts of sabotage by a recalcitrant populace

willful implies an obstinate determination to have one's own way.

a willful disregard for the rights of others

headstrong suggests self-will impatient of restraint, advice, or suggestion.

a headstrong young cavalry officer

Examples of willful in a Sentence

a stubborn and willful child He has shown a willful disregard for other people's feelings.
Recent Examples on the Web O’Hara asked whether destroying the ballots would constitute willful destruction of evidence if Sherman went forward. Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2024 China’s comedy boom gave expression to the vast numbers of young Chinese embracing the culture of sang (literally, mourning), a life style of willful underachievement and self-sabotage. Chang Che, The New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2024 Alan Weir, 50, pleaded no contest Wednesday to willful neglect of duty, a one-year misdemeanor, and was sentenced to one year of probation, with a review set for March 20, 2025, according to online records in 42-2 District Court in New Baltimore. Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 22 Mar. 2024 Alongside Keaton, O’Hara and Ryder are, of course, reprising their original roles as Delia and Lydia Deetz, while Ortega takes the part of the latter’s willful offspring. Radhika Seth, Vogue, 22 Mar. 2024 But the group says that her use of certain phrases and words demonstrated a pattern of willful anti-Black animus. Jeremy W. Peters, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024 Architecture in 2024 Oscar best picture nominees careens from fantasy to willful ignorance. Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2024 Trump is charged with the unauthorized possession and willful retention of national defense information. Robert Legare, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2024 That section bars the willful retention of national defense information by someone not authorized to have it. Perry Stein, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'willful.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of willful was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near willful

Cite this Entry

“Willful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/willful. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

willful

adjective
will·​ful
variants or wilful
1
: stubbornly determined to have one's own way
a willful child
2
: done deliberately : intentional
willful obedience
willfully adverb
willfulness noun

Legal Definition

willful

adjective
will·​ful
variants or wilful
: not accidental : done deliberately or knowingly and often in conscious violation or disregard of the law, duty, or the rights of others
willful injury
willfully adverb
willfulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on willful

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