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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wayward
The text is excitable and wayward, while many of the photographs are dramatically dull.
—
Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
Nelson encountered a first Monday afternoon at KeyBank Center when he was cut on the left wrist by a wayward skate.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 14 Oct. 2025
Once the lone bright spot for the wayward Jags, Trevor Lawrence is 29th in passer rating, and his EPA per pass is worse than every quarterback but Joe Flacco, Cam Ward and Jake Browning.
—J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
On Thursday, after a wayward drive landed in the left rough on the par-4 eighth hole, Rahm’s mood soured.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wayward
Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
Nelson encountered a first Monday afternoon at KeyBank Center when he was cut on the left wrist by a wayward skate.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 14 Oct. 2025
Once the lone bright spot for the wayward Jags, Trevor Lawrence is 29th in passer rating, and his EPA per pass is worse than every quarterback but Joe Flacco, Cam Ward and Jake Browning.
—J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
On Thursday, after a wayward drive landed in the left rough on the par-4 eighth hole, Rahm’s mood soured.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wayward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wayward
Adjective
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As for the Banks sisters, Ashley (Akira Akbar) works through a rebellious phase during her freshman year as Hilary (Coco Jones) goes on a journey of self-exploration.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
3 Nov. 2025
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To be clear, there is no sense that Rondón and Ugás are defending the old guard or suggesting that a docile, starving population pinioned under the grip of a dictatorship is big-picture preferable to a rebellious insurgency.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
That individual brilliance which can produce a moment of magic to break open a stubborn defence is harder to come by.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
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Be sure to pay extra attention to stubborn stains.—
Jennifer Beck Goldblatt,
Architectural Digest,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
An elderly man sits on the floor, dozens of bodies lying around him, before a Sudanese rebel fighter approaches and shoots him.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
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The 64-year-old actor famously portrays rebel leader Morpheus, captain of the Nebuchadnezzar, in the hit sci-fi action film franchise.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Reports of unruly visitor behavior have sparked public complaints and a rise in anti-foreigner sentiment that right-wing politicians have been quick to capitalize on.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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The Owensboro news media and some white onlookers insist that when the lady sheriff didn’t show up to act as executioner, there was anger in the press’s unmet expectations, which then was taken out on the crowd, with the reporters lying about the audience’s unruly behavior.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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On Monday afternoon, Petro remained defiant.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
21 Oct. 2025
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This Irish American neighborhood is famous for its quirky upside-down traffic light, where green proudly sits above red—a symbol of its defiant community spirit.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Ukraine has seen Europe step financially and militarily into the void left by America, and then seen the same recalcitrant White House offer them its best missiles.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
18 Oct. 2025
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William meanwhile remained recalcitrant.—
Stacy Schiff,
The Atlantic,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The cough grew violent, uncontrollable and exhausting.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
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What’s curious, then, is not Trump’s eagerness to degrade us, but his uncontrollable urge to defile himself and his office.—
Michelle Goldberg,
Mercury News,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Penalties can reach up to roughly $51,500 per violation, along with multiyear bans on new visa petitions for willful breaches, according to DOL enforcement guidelines.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
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Tessa Thompson stars as the willful heroine, married to a rather meek academic, George Tesman (Tom Bateman), who’s angling for an important university position.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wayward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wayward. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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