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waywardness

noun

Definition of waywardnessnext
as in rebellion
refusal to obey the unremitting waywardness of the child frustrated her parents at times

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for waywardness
  1. rebellion
  2. defiance
  3. rebelliousness
  4. willfulness
  5. disobedience
Noun
  • The Uprising’s final act does get unwieldy, as the director tries to show just how the rebellion was betrayed.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Exactly what Hidalgo said has been lost to history, but his message was strong enough to ignite a rebellion.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of rebellion
Noun
  • This defiance can be thought of as a refusal to feel shame—or, at least, as the confidence to believe that the shamers are wrong.
    — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2026
  • This, itself, is the ultimate act of defiance in the face of America’s neverending frontier.
    — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of defiance
Noun
  • Whether writing five decades ago or today, the genre’s most insightful commentators have always observed how punk fuses rebelliousness with commodification, capitalism with resistance.
    — Kyle Devine, Longreads, 14 July 2026
  • Marji’s rebelliousness, both admirable and terrifying for those who love her, is her salient characteristic.
    — Hillary Chute, The Atlantic, 9 June 2026
Definition of rebelliousness
Noun
  • Those leaders who ignore or flout the law aren’t merely unethical but fatally arrogant, putting their childish willfulness over the wisdom of generations.
    — David Brooks, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Though the Durutti Column had been a disaster, Wilson was fascinated by the guitarist, who admired punk’s willfulness even though his own musical taste tended toward jazz, blues, and the classical tradition.
    — Brad Shoup, Pitchfork, 24 Jan. 2026
Definition of willfulness
Noun
  • After federal prosecutors and defense attorneys had presented all their evidence Tuesday, Morrow’s attorneys asked Orso to dismiss the three petty charges accusing her of obstruction, disruption and disobedience.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Another child said he was forced to carry out artillery strikes and beaten for disobedience.
    — Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of disobedience
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

wayward
waywardness
weak
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Cite this Entry

“Waywardness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waywardness. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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