willful

adjective

will·​ful ˈwil-fəl 

variants or wilful

1

: obstinately and often perversely self-willed

a stubborn and willful child

2

: done deliberately : intentional

willful disobedience

willfully

ˈwil-fə-lē 

adverb

willfulness noun

Synonyms

• balky
• contrary
• contumacious
• defiant
• disobedient
• froward
• incompliant
• insubordinate
• intractable
• obstreperous
• rebel
• rebellious
• recalcitrant
• recusant
• refractory
• restive
• ungovernable
• unruly
• untoward
• wayward

Choose the Right Synonym for willful

unruly, ungovernable, intractable, refractory, recalcitrant, willful, headstrong mean not submissive to government or control.

unruly implies lack of discipline or incapacity for discipline and often connotes waywardness or turbulence of behavior.

unruly children

ungovernable implies either an escape from control or guidance or a state of being unsubdued and incapable of controlling oneself or being controlled by others.

ungovernable rage

intractable suggests stubborn resistance to guidance or control.

intractable opponents of the hazardous-waste dump

refractory stresses resistance to attempts to manage or to mold.

special schools for refractory children

recalcitrant suggests determined resistance to or defiance of authority.

acts of sabotage by a recalcitrant populace

willful implies an obstinate determination to have one's own way.

a willful disregard for the rights of others

headstrong suggests self-will impatient of restraint, advice, or suggestion.

a headstrong young cavalry officer

Examples of willful in a Sentence

a stubborn and willful child

He has shown a willful disregard for other people's feelings.

Recent Examples on the Web

The distinction between willful and non-willful noncompliance is crucial because willful violations carry substantially higher penalties and potential criminal liability. —Virginia La Torre Jeker, J.d., Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025

Teixeira pleaded guilty last March to six counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information under the Espionage Act, following his arrest in the most consequential national security breach in years. —Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 10 Mar. 2025

She was charged with a DUI and DWI, negligently driving a vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner, endangering property, life, and person, as well as recklessly driving a vehicle in wanton and willful disregard for the safety of persons and property. —Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 28 Feb. 2025

Blindness or willful ignorance of the future is an extremely risky path to pursue. —Patrick Casey, Debra Fiser, Whit Hall and Gary Wheeler Special To The Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 9 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for willful

• skilful
• skillful
• wilful
• unskillful

Kids Definition

willful

adjective

will·​ful

variants or wilful

ˈwil-fəl 

1

: stubbornly determined to have one's own way

a willful child

2

: done deliberately : intentional

willful obedience

willfully

-fə-lē 

adverb

willfulness noun

Legal Definition

willful

adjective

will·​ful

variants or wilful

ˈwil-fəl 

: not accidental : done deliberately or knowingly and often in conscious violation or disregard of the law, duty, or the rights of others

willful injury

willfully adverb

willfulness noun