willful

will·ful

adjective \ˈwil-fəl\

Definition of WILLFUL

1

: obstinately and often perversely self-willed <a stubborn and willful child>

2

: done deliberately : intentional <willful disobedience>

— will·ful·ly \-fə-lē\ adverb

— will·ful·ness noun

Variants of WILLFUL

will·ful or wil·ful \ˈwil-fəl\

Examples of WILLFUL

1. a stubborn and willful child
2. He has shown a willful disregard for other people's feelings.

First Known Use of WILLFUL

13th century

Related to WILLFUL

Synonyms

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

Rhymes with WILLFUL

skillful