wayward

[wey-werd]

adjective

1. 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

2. swayed or prompted by caprice; capricious.

   a wayward impulse; to be wayward in one's affections.

3. turning or changing irregularly; irregular.

   a wayward breeze.

   Synonyms: changeable, inconstant, unsteady

wayward

/ ˈweɪwəd /

adjective

1. wanting to have one's own way regardless of the wishes or good of others

2. capricious, erratic, or unpredictable

Other Word Forms

• waywardly adverb
• waywardness noun
• unwayward adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wayward¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; aphetic variant of awayward. See away, -ward

Word History and Origins

Origin of wayward¹

C14: changed from awayward turned or turning away

Synonym Study

See willful.

Example Sentences

The House of Windsor normally prefers semi-enforced exile in order to humble wayward members.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

She will get the money, but only if she agrees to her stepsister’s unusual proposal: to marry her wayward fiance, who comes from a wealthy family but also has a rap sheet.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Amidst the hedonistic lifestyle, the duo were also drifting apart, but they managed to create a second classic album - the wayward, tense and aptly-titled The Art Of Falling Apart.

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The Egyptian's shooting was also wild and wayward when he carved out shooting chances later in the half, his head bowed in disappointment at his own efforts.

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Swift opens her track with: “When I found you, you were young, wayward, lost in the cold / Pulled up to you in the Jag’, turned your rags to gold.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• capricious 
• delinquent 
• errant 
• erratic 
• headstrong 
• rebellious 
• recalcitrant 
• unruly