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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stubborn
given to resisting control or discipline by others
an institution to which wayward teens were often sent
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wayward
Innocence and goodness are not the same thing; The Changeling shares William Blake’s respect for the wayward freedom of the children’s imagination.
—
Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
As wayward posh actress Moira Rose, O’Hara’s one-liners were meme gold and earned her critical praise.
—Dan Heching, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
Let’s next mull over what to do about the circumstance of an Assistant that drifts and becomes wayward.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
The island’s more disheveled beach, Pasture Bay (a hawksbill turtle nesting haven from June until November), is fringed by wayward bushes and wildflowers—a scene, one imagines, not far removed from the one Christopher Columbus sailed into in 1463.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wayward
Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
As wayward posh actress Moira Rose, O’Hara’s one-liners were meme gold and earned her critical praise.
—Dan Heching, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
Let’s next mull over what to do about the circumstance of an Assistant that drifts and becomes wayward.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
The island’s more disheveled beach, Pasture Bay (a hawksbill turtle nesting haven from June until November), is fringed by wayward bushes and wildflowers—a scene, one imagines, not far removed from the one Christopher Columbus sailed into in 1463.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wayward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wayward
Adjective
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This rebellious attitude defines the world she’s built, and it’s reflected in the girl who wears it.—
Daisy Maldonado,
InStyle,
21 Feb. 2026
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That trombone of yours, with its rebellious and unique sound, forever changed the history of our Latin music.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
One person refuses to bow — not an army, not a revolution, one stubborn Jew minding his own business — and Haman cannot function.—
Rabbi Bruce D. Forman,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Feb. 2026
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Scrub gently with a soft sponge or brush, focusing on stubborn areas.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Tutu, the new documentary from Sam Pollard (MLK/FBI, 4 Little Girls), is a behind-the-scenes look at the life of the smiling, joyous rebel clergyman who helped end Apartheid.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Feb. 2026
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But Koch wasn’t Ogden’s only rebel influence.—
Bill Donahue,
Outside,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Last year, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy launched an air travel civility campaign, noting that the FAA had seen a 400% increase of in-flight outbursts since 2019 and 13,800 unruly passenger incidents since 2021.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Feb. 2026
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In 2025, there were 1,621 unruly passengers reported to the Federal Aviation Administration.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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In those early days, Zelensky’s uncanny capacity for survival and humor encapsulated the defiant mood of the country.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
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As the last survivor of the Block 42 resisters, Tanimoto has kept awareness of that complicated, defiant chapter of Japanese American history alive by sharing his story, including at a Day of Remembrance event taking place at noon Saturday at the Sutter County Museum in Yuba City.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Consciousness may be the most recalcitrant concept of all.—
Dan Turello,
New Yorker,
10 Jan. 2026
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Adams had carefully shepherded it through an often-recalcitrant City Council and through the gauntlet of demands coming from both the real estate lobby and pro-housing advocates.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
1 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Executives who dismiss culture as intangible or uncontrollable are misreading how today’s markets and consumers behave.—
Christopher Vollmer,
Fortune,
9 Feb. 2026
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This is partially why even minor balances become uncontrollable if not dealt with immediately.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The man is due to appear before Brisbane Magistrates Court Saturday, to face a raft of charges including wilful damage, serious vilification or hate crime, dangerous driving and possession of a dangerous drug.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
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Book-banning can also have a boomerang effect, in a democracy, since bad publicity is famously better than no publicity and the creation of any taboo invites its willful and thrilling violation.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wayward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wayward. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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