wayward

way·ward

adjective \ˈwā-wərd\

Definition of WAYWARD

1

: following one's own capricious, wanton, or depraved inclinations : ungovernable <a wayward child>

2

: following no clear principle or law : unpredictable

3

: opposite to what is desired or expected : untoward <wayward fate>

— way·ward·ly adverb

— way·ward·ness noun

Examples of WAYWARD

1. parents of a wayward teenager
2. <had always been the most wayward of their three children>

Origin of WAYWARD

Middle English, short for awayward turned away, from away, adverb + -ward

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to WAYWARD

Synonyms

balky, contrary, contumacious, defiant, froward, incompliant, insubordinate, intractable, obstreperous, rebel, rebellious, recalcitrant, recusant, refractory, restive, ungovernable, unruly, untoward, disobedient, willful (or wilful)

Antonyms

amenable, biddable, compliant, conformable, docile, obedient, ruly, submissive, tractable

Related Words

noncooperative, uncooperative; insurgent, mutinous; adamant, adamantine, dogged, hardheaded, headstrong, immovable, implacable, inflexible, mulish, negativistic, obdurate, obstinate, opinionated, peevish, pertinacious, pigheaded, rigid, self-willed, stubborn, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding; fractious, restive, uncontrollable, unmanageable, wild; perverse, resistant, wrongheaded; bad, disorderly, errant, misbehaving, mischievous, monkeying, monkeyish, naughty; undisciplined; dissident, nonconformist; discourteous, disrespectful, ill-bred, ill-mannered, ill-natured, impertinent, impolite, impudent, inconsiderate, insolent, ornery, rude, uncivil, uncouth, ungracious, unmannerly

Near Antonyms

acquiescent, agreeable, amiable, cooperative, deferential, obliging; yielding; behaved, disciplined, well-bred; courteous, polite, respectful; kowtowing, obsequious, servile, slavish, subservient; decorous, mannerly, orderly, proper; controllable, governable, manageable, trainable

See Synonym Discussion at contrary