Synonyms of wayward

wayward

adjective

ˈwā-wərd 

1

as in rebellious

given to resisting authority or another's control

had always been the most wayward of their three children

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rebellious
• rebel
• defiant
• stubborn
• willful
• unruly
• recalcitrant
• mischievous
• contrary
• disobedient
• naughty
• dogged
• obstreperous
• balky
• contumacious
• insubordinate
• restive
• rigid
• ungovernable
• intractable
• adamant
• refractory
• dissident
• wild
• untoward
• froward
• unrelenting
• bad
• recusant
• incompliant
• uncontrollable
• insurgent
• uncooperative
• resistant
• rude
• mutinous
• errant
• obstinate
• peevish
• headstrong
• noncooperative
• opinionated
• uncompromising
• obdurate
• implacable
• unmanageable
• mulish
• fractious
• negativistic
• monkeying
• unbending
• unyielding
• pertinacious
• wrongheaded
• undisciplined
• immovable
• hardheaded
• disorderly
• inflexible
• perverse
• adamantine
• impudent
• pigheaded
• disrespectful
• ornery
• self-willed
• insolent
• ungracious
• nonconformist
• uncouth
• inconsiderate
• misbehaving
• discourteous
• impertinent
• unmannerly
• uncivil
• impolite
• ill-mannered
• monkeyish
• ill-natured
• ill-bred

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• obedient
• docile
• amiable
• compliant
• submissive
• cooperative
• amenable
• tractable
• agreeable
• deferential
• acquiescent
• conformable
• yielding
• behaved
• biddable
• well-bred
• obliging
• disciplined
• respectful
• courteous
• proper
• polite
• ruly
• servile
• obsequious
• slavish
• subservient
• orderly
• decorous
• manageable
• controllable
• mannerly
• trainable
• kowtowing
• governable

2

as in stubborn

given to resisting control or discipline by others

an institution to which wayward teens were often sent

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stubborn
• rebellious
• unruly
• recalcitrant
• uncontrollable
• willful
• unmanageable
• headstrong
• out of hand
• naughty
• ungovernable
• intractable
• difficult
• refractory
• untoward
• incontrollable
• incorrigible
• froward
• obstinate
• wild
• undisciplined
• intransigent
• obdurate
• mulish
• uncontrolled
• stiff
• rambunctious
• irrepressible
• boisterous
• rowdy
• contrary
• perverse
• opinionated
• hardheaded
• disobedient
• unpunished
• bullheaded
• pigheaded
• self-willed
• insubordinate
• stiff-necked
• indocile
• misbehaving

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• manageable
• controllable
• obedient
• tractable
• docile
• compliant
• submissive
• well-behaved
• yielding
• governable
• willing
• pliable
• receptive
• accepting
• responsive
• reasonable
• placable
• temperate
• trainable
• persuadable

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective wayward contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of wayward are balky, contrary, perverse, and restive. While all these words mean "inclined to resist authority or control," wayward suggests strong-willed capriciousness and irregularity in behavior.

a school for wayward youths

When can balky be used instead of wayward?

The synonyms balky and wayward are sometimes interchangeable, but balky suggests a refusing to proceed in a desired direction or course of action.

a balky witness

When would contrary be a good substitute for wayward?

The meanings of contrary and wayward largely overlap; however, contrary implies a temperamental unwillingness to accept orders or advice.

a contrary child

When might perverse be a better fit than wayward?

While the synonyms perverse and wayward are close in meaning, perverse may imply wrongheaded, determined, or cranky opposition to what is reasonable or normal.

a perverse, intractable critic

In what contexts can restive take the place of wayward?

The words restive and wayward are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, restive suggests unwillingness or inability to submit to discipline or follow orders.

tired soldiers growing restive

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of wayward

Bar associations need to have more of a bite in going after law licenses to curb wayward lawyers like Bondi, Blanche or Brito, who lawyer solely for political reason without adherence to the rule of law. — Miles J. Zaremski, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 July 2026

Released in May, the film adaptation stars Sally Field as Tova, Lewis Pullman as Cameron — a wayward young man who comes to town in search of family and finds an unexpected friendship with Tova — and Tony nominee Alfred Molina, who voices Marcellus. — Shyla Watson, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026

The experience of eating it is even more shocking … the electric crunch of passionfruit seeds giving way to exploding citrus vesicles, glimmering like wayward teardrop gems … and … was that a dehydrated banana? — Cooking Editor, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026

Footage has been captured from behind the goal and most of the 20 attempts, to be kind, are wayward. — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 10 July 2026