wayward
Americanadjective
-
turned or turning away from what is right or proper; willful; disobedient.
a wayward son; wayward behavior.
- Synonyms:
- intractable, refractory, unruly, obstinate, stubborn, headstrong, contrary
-
swayed or prompted by caprice; capricious.
a wayward impulse; to be wayward in one's affections.
-
turning or changing irregularly; irregular.
a wayward breeze.
- Synonyms:
- changeable, inconstant, unsteady
adjective
-
wanting to have one's own way regardless of the wishes or good of others
-
capricious, erratic, or unpredictable
Related Words
See willful.
Other Word Forms
- unwayward adjective
- waywardly adverb
- waywardness noun
Etymology
Origin of wayward
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; aphetic variant of awayward. See away, -ward
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“It Lasts Forever and Then It’s Over” centers on a wayward traveler in a post-apocalyptic, decaying landscape.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2026
The identity of her father is unknown, but she aches for her mother who, as a wayward teenager, quickly handed off newborn Annie to her grandmother before disappearing from their lives.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026
In recent months, the King has been treading a balancing act in dealing with his wayward brother.
From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026
Despite winning the Champions League in 2021, Werner endured a difficult stint at Stamford Bridge and was often criticised for his wayward finishing.
From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026
It feels more like wayward hope or desperation.
From "I Am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
