willfully

or wil·ful·ly

[ wil-fuh-lee ]

adverb

1. deliberately or intentionally; on purpose:

   Any seller who knowingly or willfully certifies false statements is subject to fine and imprisonment.

2. in an unreasonably stubborn or headstrong way:

   The student disrupted school activities and willfully defied the authority of teachers, administrators, and other school employees.

Other Words From

• half-will·ful·ly half-wil·ful·ly adverb
• un·will·ful·ly un·wil·ful·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of willfully¹

First recorded before 1000; equivalent to willful ( def ) + -ly ( def )

Example Sentences

The defendants also “intentionally and willfully” failed to provide him with complete and accurate wage statements and withheld all the wages he was owed in his final paycheck — violations of California’s labor code.

From Los Angeles Times

Currently, the law says to constitute harassment, landlords must knowingly and willfully engage in conduct that causes detriment and harm and “serves no lawful purpose,” a standard advocates said was impossible to prove.

From Los Angeles Times

The database cited the California penal code aimed at anyone who “willfully inflicts corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition” on a spouse, former spouse, live-in partner, fiancé or fiancée, former dating partner, or co-parent.

From Los Angeles Times

The current definition requires landlords to knowingly and willfully engage in bad-faith conduct that “serves no lawful purpose,” a standard advocates say can be impossible to prove.

From Los Angeles Times

The family's attorney said Trump has "willfully and brazenly engaged in copyright infringement," BBC reported.

From Salon

Related Words

• consciously
• knowingly
• pointedly
• purposely
• studiously
• voluntarily