willful

or wil·ful

[ wil-fuhl ]

/ ˈwɪl fəl /

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See synonyms for: willful / willfully / willfulness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

deliberate, voluntary, or intentional: The coroner ruled the death willful murder.

unreasonably stubborn or headstrong; self-willed.

OTHER WORDS FOR willful

1 volitional;.

2 intransigent; contrary, refractory, pigheaded, inflexible, obdurate, adamant.

See synonyms for willful on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR willful

2 obedient, tractable.

See antonyms for willful on Thesaurus.com

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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of willful

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English; Old English wilful willing. See will², -ful

synonym study for willful

2. Willful, headstrong, perverse, wayward refer to one who stubbornly insists upon doing as he or she pleases. Willful suggests a stubborn persistence in doing what one wishes, especially in opposition to those whose wishes or commands ought to be respected or obeyed: that willful child who disregarded his parents' advice. One who is headstrong is often foolishly, and sometimes violently, self-willed: reckless and headstrong youths. The perverse person is unreasonably or obstinately intractable or contrary, often with the express intention of being disagreeable: perverse out of sheer spite. Wayward in this sense has the connotation of rash wrongheadedness that gets one into trouble: a reform school for wayward girls.

OTHER WORDS FROM willful

will·ful·ly, adverbwill·ful·ness, nounhalf-willful, adjectivehalf-will·ful·ly, adverb

half-will·ful·ness, nounun·will·ful, adjectiveun·will·ful·ly, adverbun·will·ful·ness, noun

Words nearby willful

willemite, Willemstad, Willendorf, Willesden, willet, willful, William, William and Mary, William I, William II, William III

How to use willful in a sentence

I can use all the help I can get trying to manage my three big, willful dogs at home and in the outdoors.
The Unsuccessful Intersection of Dogs and Technology|wsiler|July 17, 2021|Outside Online
The revised premise, which I’ve been asked not to say much more about before the premiere drops, requires some willful suspension of disbelief.
HBO Max's Gossip Girl Reboot Is Perfectly Fine for a Show That Shouldn't Exist|Judy Berman|July 5, 2021|Time
Rather than being an extraordinarily malicious person, he was a “clown” living a genocidal lie fostered and perpetuated by a culture of willful self-deception.
What’s the Point of Trying to Understand Ghislaine Maxwell?|Judy Berman|June 24, 2021|Time
If one of the attorneys finds that the complaint meets a “knowing and willful” standard, Googins is supposed to forward it to the district attorney’s office.
Chula Vista Politicians Routinely Blow Past Campaign Debt Limits|Jesse Marx|June 2, 2021|Voice of San Diego

Because this revenue represented goods Under Armour actually did sell, the SEC said it did not find that the company violated accounting rules and claimed that it committed fraud by negligence, rather than willful wrongdoing.
Under Armour founder sold $138 million in stock during time period company allegedly misled investors about slowing sales|Douglas MacMillan|May 13, 2021|Washington Post
The movement was a willful, angry child, though, exploding away from “art” and from the canvas in particular.
The Life and Art of Radical Provocateur—and Commune Leader—Otto Muehl|Anthony Haden-Guest|September 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Cribs, unlike seatbelts, are built for the purpose of willful prevention.
Is It Wrong for Parents to Lock Up Their Disabled Kids?|Elizabeth Picciuto|August 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The pendulum has swung too far in the other direction from physician paternalism towards willful ignorance by patients.
Why Smart People Are Dumb Patients|Jean Kim|July 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At times it can seem too proud of its virtuous noncommerciality; its slowness can seem shallow, its artiness willful.
‘The Leftovers’ Review: A Fever Dream You Can’t Wake Up From|Andrew Romano|June 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Is the study of society undertaken with a willful ignorance of moral philosophy, theology, civics, and Econ 101.
P.J. on the Owl-Monkey Project and the Science of Chick Flicks|P. J. O’Rourke|April 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A sweet and blessed sleep enveloped her like the cloak of a kind mother wrapping the willful child who has much suffered and wept.
Balsamo, The Magician|Alexander Dumas
She was high-spirited as a girl, a little willful and impulsive, but with the best heart in the world.
A Hoosier Chronicle|Meredith Nicholson
Marian undoubtedly wheedled her father a good deal in the manner of handsome and willful daughters.
A Hoosier Chronicle|Meredith Nicholson
He was selfish, willful, and obstinate at two-and-thirty as he had been at ten years of age.
Paul Patoff|F. Marion Crawford
He was a willful man, with a good deal of granite in his make-up.
The Highgrader|William MacLeod Raine

British Dictionary definitions for willful

willful

/ (ˈwɪlfʊl) /

adjective

the US spelling of wilful

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

willful

or wil·ful

OTHER WORDS FOR willful

OPPOSITES FOR willful

Origin of willful

synonym study for willful

OTHER WORDS FROM willful

Words nearby willful

Words related to willful

How to use willful in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for willful