WILFUL Synonyms: 314 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'willful' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of willful are headstrong , intractable , recalcitrant , refractory , ungovernable , and unruly . While all these words mean "not submissive to government or control," willful implies an obstinate determination to have one's own way. // a willful disregard for the rights of others

Q: When can 'headstrong' be used instead of 'willful'?

Although the words headstrong and willful have much in common, headstrong suggests self-will impatient of restraint, advice, or suggestion. // a headstrong young cavalry officer

Q: When would 'intractable' be a good substitute for 'willful'?

The words intractable and willful are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, intractable suggests stubborn resistance to guidance or control. // intractable opponents of the hazardous-waste dump

Q: When is 'recalcitrant' a more appropriate choice than 'willful'?

While in some cases nearly identical to willful , recalcitrant suggests determined resistance to or defiance of authority. // acts of sabotage by a recalcitrant populace

Q: Where would 'refractory' be a reasonable alternative to 'willful'?

While the synonyms refractory and willful are close in meaning, refractory stresses resistance to attempts to manage or to mold. // special schools for refractory children

Q: When is it sensible to use 'ungovernable' instead of 'willful'?

The synonyms ungovernable and willful are sometimes interchangeable, but ungovernable implies either an escape from control or guidance or a state of being unsubdued and incapable of controlling oneself or being controlled by others. // ungovernable rage

Q: When might 'unruly' be a better fit than 'willful'?

In some situations, the words unruly and willful are roughly equivalent. However, unruly implies lack of discipline or incapacity for discipline and often connotes waywardness or turbulence of behavior. // unruly children

willful

adjective

ˈwil-fəl

variants or wilful

Definition of willful

as in rebellious

given to resisting authority or another's control a particularly willful horse that took weeks to break to saddle

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in stubborn

given to resisting control or discipline by others finally the parents sought professional counseling for the willful child

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as in arbitrary

having or showing a tendency to force one's will on others without any regard to fairness or necessity a willful disregard for the rights of others

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as in deliberate

made, given, or done with full awareness of what one is doing a willful attempt to cheat her siblings out of their rightful inheritance

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as in adamant

sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion the kind of willful person who can never bring himself to admit that he made a mistake

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How does the adjective willful differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of willful are headstrong, intractable, recalcitrant, refractory, ungovernable, and unruly. While all these words mean "not submissive to government or control," willful implies an obstinate determination to have one's own way.

a willful disregard for the rights of others

When can headstrong be used instead of willful?

Although the words headstrong and willful have much in common, headstrong suggests self-will impatient of restraint, advice, or suggestion.

a headstrong young cavalry officer

When would intractable be a good substitute for willful?

The words intractable and willful are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, intractable suggests stubborn resistance to guidance or control.

intractable opponents of the hazardous-waste dump

When is recalcitrant a more appropriate choice than willful?

While in some cases nearly identical to willful, recalcitrant suggests determined resistance to or defiance of authority.

acts of sabotage by a recalcitrant populace

Where would refractory be a reasonable alternative to willful?

While the synonyms refractory and willful are close in meaning, refractory stresses resistance to attempts to manage or to mold.

special schools for refractory children

When is it sensible to use ungovernable instead of willful?

The synonyms ungovernable and willful are sometimes interchangeable, but ungovernable implies either an escape from control or guidance or a state of being unsubdued and incapable of controlling oneself or being controlled by others.

ungovernable rage

When might unruly be a better fit than willful?

In some situations, the words unruly and willful are roughly equivalent. However, unruly implies lack of discipline or incapacity for discipline and often connotes waywardness or turbulence of behavior.

unruly children

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of willful Within this literature, no decade is more doom-laden than the nineteen-thirties, when misguided hope and willful blindness led the world’s democracies to grossly underestimate the threat of Fascism. — Beverly Gage, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026 The title refers not only to the horror film my protagonist, Maya, is trying to make, but also to the city’s new masters and to those living in a zombified state of willful ignorance. — Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026 Judge Darren Steele said the state amended a charge of willful, wanton reckless driving – second offense, adjudication of guilt that carried a $1,000 fine. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, citizenship may be revoked if it was illegally procured or obtained through the concealment of a material fact or willful misrepresentation. — Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for willful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for willful

Adjective

The shoes appeared similar to the popular DSquared 2 Riri heeled sandals, which are also a sleek, seductive and rebellious style with towering heels and straps that wrap around the foot and ankle with super-thin leather ties.

— Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Suzanne’s kind of rebellious temperament brought a lucidity to that character.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of rebellious

Adjective

But labor campaigners said in the statement that their wage demand wasn’t arbitrary.

— Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026
The initiative has not yet produced a universal virtual cell capable of accurately predicting arbitrary biological responses.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of arbitrary

Adjective

The director’s deliberate obfuscation of Soulan’s immediate intentions — beyond his desire to keep the school open — make for a fascinating character study.

— Kambole Campbell, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
Cheval Blanc Courchevel made a more deliberate bid in 2006, when LVMH launched the first project in its hospitality collection.

— Robb Report, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of deliberate

Adjective

Capturing towns and roads would hamper Tigrayan fighters without necessarily securing the vast rural areas where the rebel forces regrouped during the previous war, Taylor said.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Main roads leading Yemen’s third-largest city have been closed amid rebel attacks, with regular clashes on the outskirts and overnight bombardment.

— Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of rebel

Adjective

Elementary school students may have tantrums, be clingy, have toileting accidents, engage in uncontrollable crying or become less talkative as a result of changes in schools, homes and caregivers.

— Nikki R Wooten, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026
DeStefano kicked into a quasi-rock groove on acoustic guitar, and the guys launched into a chorus about shaking off uncontrollable hassles and restoring positivity.

— Tom Roland, Billboard, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of uncontrollable

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“Willful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/willful. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of willful

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