Thesaurus

wayward

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of wayward

1 given to resisting authority or another's control

had always been the most wayward of their three children

Synonyms of wayward

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

Words Related to wayward

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

dissident, nonconformist

discourteous, disrespectful, ill-bred, ill-mannered, ill-natured, impertinent, impolite, impudent, inconsiderate, insolent, ornery, rude, uncivil, uncouth, ungracious, unmannerly

Near Antonyms of wayward

acquiescent, agreeable, amiable, cooperative, deferential, obliging

behaved, disciplined, well-bred

courteous, polite, respectful

kowtowing, obsequious, servile, slavish, subservient

decorous, mannerly, orderly, proper

controllable, governable, manageable, trainable

Antonyms of wayward

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

2 given to resisting control or discipline by others

an institution to which wayward teens were often sent

Synonyms of wayward

froward, headstrong, incontrollable, intractable, recalcitrant, refractory, uncontrollable, ungovernable, unmanageable, unruly, untoward, willful (or wilful)

Words Related to wayward

bullheaded, contrary, difficult, hardheaded, incorrigible, intransigent, mulish, obdurate, obstinate, opinionated, perverse, pigheaded, self-willed, stiff, stiff-necked, stubborn

undisciplined, unpunished

uncontrolled, wild

boisterous, irrepressible, rambunctious, rowdy

disobedient, indocile, insubordinate, rebellious

misbehaving, naughty

Phrases Synonymous with wayward

Near Antonyms of wayward

docile, obedient, well-behaved

compliant, placable, pliable, submissive, yielding

accepting, persuadable, receptive, responsive, willing

reasonable, temperate, trainable

Antonyms of wayward

controllable, governable, manageable, tractable

Synonym Discussion of wayward

contrary, perverse, restive, balky, wayward mean inclined to resist authority or control. contrary implies a temperamental unwillingness to accept orders or advice.

- a contrary child

perverse may imply wrongheaded, determined, or cranky opposition to what is reasonable or normal.

- a perverse, intractable critic

restive suggests unwillingness or inability to submit to discipline or follow orders.

- tired soldiers growing restive

balky suggests a refusing to proceed in a desired direction or course of action.

- a balky witness

wayward suggests strong-willed capriciousness and irregularity in behavior.

- a school for wayward youths

Learn More about wayward

Dictionary: Definition of wayward Spanish Central: Translation of wayward Nglish: Translation of wayward for Spanish speakers

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