self-will

noun

ˌself-ˈwil 

: stubborn or willful adherence to one's own desires or ideas : obstinacy

Synonyms

• bullheadedness
• doggedness
• hardheadedness
• intransigence
• mulishness
• obduracy
• obdurateness
• obstinacy
• obstinateness
• opinionatedness
• pertinaciousness
• pertinacity
• pigheadedness
• self-opinionatedness
• stubbornness
• willfulness

Examples of self-will in a Sentence

a schoolboy with a streak of self-will and rebellion

Recent Examples on the Web

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

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

self-will

noun

ˈself-ˈwil

: a stubborn sticking to one's own desires or ideas

self-willed

-ˈwild

adjective