self-will

[ self-wil, self- ]

noun

1. stubborn or obstinate willfulness, as in pursuing one's own wishes, aims, etc.

self-will

noun

1. stubborn adherence to one's own will, desires, etc, esp at the expense of others

Derived Forms

• ˌself-ˈwilled, adjective

Other Words From

• self-willed adjective
• self-willedly adverb
• self-willedness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of self-will¹

before 900; Middle English: one's own will, stubbornness; Old English: one's own will; self, will ²

Example Sentences

Desertion doesn't mean a sea of water between, it means an ocean of self-will and love-me-first between.

From Project Gutenberg

The fact that he was a son was of no avail to him in the "far country," in the place of self-will and self-management.

From Project Gutenberg

The consequences of self-will do not always pass away as quickly as we hope and expect.

From Project Gutenberg

She is trying to rush him, he puts it to himself; and the thought rouses all his own obstinacy and self-will.

From Project Gutenberg

After these offences of self-will and vanity Tom Taylor finds us some other little thing—I think it is inaccuracy.

From Project Gutenberg