variants
or wilful
1
as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control
a particularly willful horse that took weeks to break to saddle
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in uncontrollable
given to resisting control or discipline by others
finally the parents sought professional counseling for the willful child
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in arrogant
having or showing a tendency to force one's will on others without any regard to fairness or necessity
a willful disregard for the rights of others
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4
as in deliberate
made, given, or done with full awareness of what one is doing
a willful attempt to cheat her siblings out of their rightful inheritance
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5
as in stubborn
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
the kind of willful person who can never bring himself to admit that he made a mistake
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of willful
His criminal history includes discharging a firearm at an inhabited dwelling and vehicle, battery on spouse or cohabitant, willful cruelty to child, driving under the influence, assault with a semi-automatic firearm and personal use of a firearm.
—
Greg Wehner , Bill Melugin, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2025
Given these willful and continuing violations, the prospect of negotiating a meaningful arms control deal with Putin under the best of circumstances is far-fetched.
—Eric S. Edelman, Foreign Affairs, 3 June 2025
The owner, who was identified as 30-year-old Olivia Underwood, was arrested for willful or malicious torture, maiming or killing of a dog and was booked into the Clark County Detention Center, police said.
—Megan Forrester, ABC News, 2 June 2025
But the appeals court affirmed a jury's finding that Cox was guilty of willful contributory infringement, raising the likelihood that ISPs would have to terminate customers accused of piracy to avoid liability.
—ArsTechnica, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for willful
Greg Wehner , Bill Melugin, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2025
Given these willful and continuing violations, the prospect of negotiating a meaningful arms control deal with Putin under the best of circumstances is far-fetched.
—Eric S. Edelman, Foreign Affairs, 3 June 2025
The owner, who was identified as 30-year-old Olivia Underwood, was arrested for willful or malicious torture, maiming or killing of a dog and was booked into the Clark County Detention Center, police said.
—Megan Forrester, ABC News, 2 June 2025
But the appeals court affirmed a jury's finding that Cox was guilty of willful contributory infringement, raising the likelihood that ISPs would have to terminate customers accused of piracy to avoid liability.
—ArsTechnica, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for willful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for willful
Adjective
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Mexican music has always been rock-ish in spirit — sincere, rebellious, a direct message that invites you to rebel against the world.—
Ernesto Lechner,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2025
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Strahovski shares details about her character’s state of mind the moment when everything changed with a bold and rebellious move, after finding love again with Commander Wharton (Josh Charles), below.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
22 June 2025
Adjective
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Commenters had a lot to say, and many of them highlighted an often uncontrollable difference between generations: financial insecurity.—
Anna Halkidis,
Parents,
26 June 2025
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In both cases, the objective was to signal strength while minimizing the chance of escalation into uncontrollable conflict.—
Robert Rapier,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
Adjective
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The protests proved conclusively that Americans will not tolerate the deployment of the U.S. military in American cities, the constant line-stepping over constitutional boundaries, the arrests of political dissenters, or the arrogant defense of police-state tactics.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 June 2025
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In Aesop’s fable, the turtle (traditionally called a tortoise, which is a type of turtle) is a winner, a perpetual underdog who defeats the arrogant hare.—
A.O. Scott,
New York Times,
13 June 2025
Adjective
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Amanda Edwards/WireImage Unlike luxury fashion or high-end accessories, where scarcity is often a deliberate strategy to generate buzz, products like jam and wine fall into the realm of everyday indulgences.—
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 June 2025
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Not by publishing randomly, but by following a deliberate editorial calendar, revisiting your core challenges, and ensuring each new piece of content connects to the larger arc of your thought leadership story.—
Rhea Wessel,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
Adjective
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One of the people that is most stubborn in their support of these spendy projects is Senator Todd Young, a Republican from Indiana.—
Roger Valdez,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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For indoor brick, keep it simple by trying a slightly damp brush to sweep away stubborn dirt.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
29 June 2025
Adjective
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Pride celebrations are typically a daylong mix of jubilant street parties and political protest, but this year’s iterations took a more defiant stance as Republicans, led by President Trump, have sought to roll back LGBTQ+ rights.—
Philip Marcelo,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2025
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Mamdani’s outspoken support for Palestinian causes was a point of tension in the mayor’s race as Cuomo and other opponents sought to label his defiant criticism of Israel as antisemitic.—
Philip Marcelo,
Fortune,
25 June 2025
Adjective
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The show premiered Saturday, April 12, and follows three successful Black men on a quest for love—each with a very opinionated mother (or mother figure) tagging along for the entire ride.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
16 Apr. 2025
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For being such an opinionated, sure person, this is an element in my life that I’ve never been superattached to a yes or no answer.—
Lulu Garcia-Navarro,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
Adjective
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This anecdote is a perfect snapshot of Jameela’s lifelong refusal to accept arbitrary rules.—
Mandeep Rai,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
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Choosing a side for the wall would have been arbitrary.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
22 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Willful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/willful. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.
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