1
as in stubbornness
a steadfast adherence to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
her unceasing willfulness eventually wore down her critics and opponents
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rebellion
refusal to obey
the trainer was able to correct our dog's willfulness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of willfulness
While this change reduces the explicit admission of willfulness, a narrative is still required.
—
Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for willfulness
Noun
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Baseball’s stubbornness and insistence on staggering all of its postseason games left a terrific pitcher’s duel between two of the game’s young stars to start shortly after lunch on the East Coast and just a bit after breakfast on the West Coast.—
Jason Lloyd,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
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So, why does intellectual stubbornness so often carry the day?—
Shai Tubali,
Big Think,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The state argued incidents that arose from the ICE facility protests in recent months have been handled by local law enforcement and have not been severe enough to be considered a riot or rebellion.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
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Her choice challenges the rules of her world and sparks a rebellion that paves the way for a new way of life.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Overwintering dahlias as perennials takes patience, persistence, and a little bit of trial and error.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Oct. 2025
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The persistence of this military alliance can best be explained by a lack of alternative Atlanticist structures.—
JENNIFER KAVANAGH,
Foreign Affairs,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Flattering, placating, and kowtowing only seem to spark escalating demands while defiance risks retaliation.—
Jeff Kingston,
Time,
4 Oct. 2025
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Saturday’s look aligned her with a brand known for its romantic defiance.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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For him, obstinacy was far worse than correction.—
Shai Tubali,
Big Think,
30 Sep. 2025
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The left’s obstinacy may carry a heavy political price.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The performance goes from fiery to ineffectual as DiCaprio’s character, Bob, loses his youthful rebelliousness in a haze of pot and resignation.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
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The rebelliousness can be witnessed in everything from its ’70s-in-California style to the very naming conventions Mother chooses for its viral products — adored by A-listers like Gigi Hadid, Chrissy Teigen, Millie Bobby Brown, and more.—
Kristina Rutkowski,
Footwear News,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
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But also injuries and ailments at all the wrong times, as well as overt self-will at times.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
16 Feb. 2025
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So for those of us torn between watching the sun get blotted out and getting blotto keeping our attention on a particularly good rock show, this exercise in multi-tasking was a real contest of self-will.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2024
Noun
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Moja Rowa Colorful disobedience is how Moja Rowa cofounders Yelena Mojarova and Edward Benedikt Sittler characterize their creative spirit and brand ethos.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
23 Sep. 2025
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The ladies move closer to God through acts of disobedience, debauchery, and disgrace; by visiting seedy places and commingling with the disreputable.—
Nicole Flattery,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Willfulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/willfulness. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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