willful

Or wil·ful

[wil-fuhl]

adjective

1. deliberate, voluntary, or intentional.

   The coroner ruled the death willful murder.

   Synonyms: volitional;

2. unreasonably stubborn or headstrong; self-willed.

   Synonyms: adamant, obdurate, inflexible, pigheaded, refractory, contrary, intransigent
   Antonyms: tractable, obedient

willful

/ ˈwɪlfʊl /

adjective

1. the US spelling of wilful

Other Word Forms

• willfully adverb
• willfulness noun
• half-willful adjective
• half-willfulness noun
• unwillful adjective
• unwillfulness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of willful¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English; Old English wilful “willing”; will ², -ful

Synonym Study

Willful, headstrong, perverse, wayward refer to one who stubbornly insists upon doing as they please. 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 teens.

Example Sentences

The executor’s actions are bad manners, at best, or a willful abandoning of her fiduciary duty, at worst.

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Prosecutors are also alleging a special allegation of willful harm or injury resulting in death.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

This new Angie is as impetuous, brash, willful and secretive as the original.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

I was fascinated by a woman who lived such a life of the mind that she had a sort of willful misunderstanding of the machinations of her body.

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Eastern contested the decision, and the fine was reduced to $15,625 and classified as a serious violation rather than a willful one, according to federal records.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• conscious 
• deliberate 
• intentional 
• premeditated 
• purposeful 
• willed