strong-willed

American  

[strawng-wild, strong-] / ˈstrɔŋˈwɪld, ˈstrɒŋ- /

adjective

1. having a powerful will; resolute.

2. stubborn; obstinate.

---

strong-willed British  

adjective

1. having strength of will

---

Etymology

Origin of strong-willed

First recorded in 1895–1900

Explanation

Someone strong-willed doesn’t give up easily. A strong-willed person is determined. Your will is your desire or drive to do something, so a strong-willed person is someone with a powerful will. This can be positive or negative. A child who insists on going to the zoo in the rain is strong-willed in a stubborn way. Someone with deep beliefs is strong-willed in a better way. A hero — or anyone who shows courage — is strong-willed. You have to be strong-willed to stand up for what you believe in during difficult situations.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

strong-willed

"My work also busts the myth that Byfield always did what he was told and never complained. He was very strong-willed but also suffered a great deal of hardship and psychological strain."

From Science Daily ● Sep. 7, 2026

His mother, Laura, was the backbone of the family: strong-willed and devoutly Methodist.

From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026

Epstein told de Rothschild she could count on him in difficult times, and that he viewed her as his younger, strong-willed sister.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 24, 2026

It didn’t take long to recognize that the core of the hearing would be an honor dispute between two strong-willed men.

From Slate ● Mar. 18, 2026

Celibidache was a conductor from the old school, an imperious and strong-willed man with very definite ideas about how music ought to be played—and about who ought to play music.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell

Related Words

• headstrong