willful

or wil·ful

[ wil-fuhl ]

adjective

1. deliberate, voluntary, or intentional:

   The coroner ruled the death willful murder.

   Synonyms: volitional;

2. unreasonably stubborn or headstrong; self-willed.

   Synonyms: adamant, obdurate, inflexible, pigheaded, refractory, contrary, intransigent

   Antonyms: tractable, obedient

willful

/ ˈwɪlfʊl /

adjective

1. the US spelling of wilful

Other Words From

• will·ful·ly adverb
• will·ful·ness noun
• half-will·ful adjective
• half-will·ful·ness noun
• un·will·ful adjective
• un·will·ful·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of willful¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English; Old English wilful “willing”; will ², -ful

Synonym Study

Willful, headstrong, perverse, wayward refer to one who stubbornly insists upon doing as they please. Willful suggests a stubborn persistence in doing what one wishes, especially in opposition to those whose wishes or commands ought to be respected or obeyed: that willful child who disregarded his parents' advice. One who is headstrong is often foolishly, and sometimes violently, self-willed: reckless and headstrong youths. The perverse person is unreasonably or obstinately intractable or contrary, often with the express intention of being disagreeable: perverse out of sheer spite. Wayward in this sense has the connotation of rash wrongheadedness that gets one into trouble: a reform school for wayward teens.

Example Sentences

Journalist Lindsay Beyerstein agreed, arguing that ignorance is willful, chosen by people who enjoy the permission not to be troubled by facts.

From Salon

Watching "Here" is akin to watching a willful erasure of how the past has been weaponized over the last several years.

From Salon

But because the delays and discharges occurred in an area of the hospital classified as an emergency room, lawyers said that Texas law set a much higher burden of proof: “willful and wanton negligence.”

From Salon

Trump and his regime also engaged in acts of structural and institutional violence against the American people through willful negligence and outright malice.

From Salon

The “defendants’ conduct has been, and continues to be, willful and knowing,” the suit says.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• conscious
• deliberate
• intentional
• premeditated
• purposeful
• willed