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.
I tried in vain to hear whether Mrs. Maroney was disclosing her secrets about her own wayward husband.
From Literature
Bar the opening burst, when they claimed three wickets in the first 13 overs, the hosts were wayward with the ball.
From BBC
Administration officials say they are trying to strengthen the West and put a wayward Europe back on track.
Brydon Carse was wayward early, but tightened up his line and length to pose a threat, as did skipper Ben Stokes when he came on after lunch.
From Barron's
Bar Carse's wayward spell with the new ball, England collectively found their fullest length of the series.
From BBC
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.
