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
Synonym Usage
See willful.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of wayward
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; aphetic variant of awayward. See away, -ward
Explanation
Someone wayward is a little stubborn and independent — they're determined to find their own way and are not easily controlled. Being wayward can mean a few things, but they all have something to do with doing your own thing — often, going against what others want you to do. A rebellious student is wayward. A son who ignores his parent's advice is wayward. A politician who goes against everyone else in his political party is wayward. Wayward folks like to go their own way — and they often take the unexpected path.
Vocabulary lists containing wayward
Romeo and Juliet
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Spinnin' Around
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The One and Only Ivan
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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.
New-ball partner Lauren Bell was also unusually wayward early on and as a result 57 runs came from the powerplay, even with Shefali Verma and Harmanpreet falling for 11 and eight respectively.
From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026
Soon after, cardholders complained on social media about problems including delayed rent payments, wayward charges and trouble reaching customer service.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026
Rhodes, 63, founded Sun Space in 2017 as a performance art venue for wayward artists who don’t properly fit the rigid mold of the Los Angeles club and bar circuit.
From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026
How long will the wayward cruise ship passengers stay in Omaha?
From Slate • May 14, 2026
And if Lord Fredrick stayed home, the danger of a wayward shot was all but eliminated . . . but this “hunt or be hunted” business made her deeply uneasy.
From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood
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.
