wilful

[ wil-fuh l ]
/ ˈwɪl fəl /

adjective

OTHER WORDS FROM wilful

Definition for wilful (2 of 2)

willful

or wil·ful

[ wil-fuhl ]
/ ˈwɪl fəl /

adjective

deliberate, voluntary, or intentional: The coroner ruled the death willful murder.
unreasonably stubborn or headstrong; self-willed.

Origin of willful

1150–1200; Middle English; Old English wilful willing. See will2, -ful

SYNONYMS FOR willful

2 intransigent; contrary, refractory, pigheaded, inflexible, obdurate, adamant. Willful, headstrong, perverse, wayward refer to one who stubbornly insists upon doing as he or she pleases. 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 girls.

ANTONYMS FOR willful

OTHER WORDS FROM willful

Example sentences from the Web for wilful

British Dictionary definitions for wilful (1 of 2)

wilful

US willful

/ (ˈwɪlfʊl) /

adjective

intent on having one's own way; headstrong or obstinate
intentional wilful murder

Derived forms of wilful

wilfully or US willfully, adverb wilfulness or US willfulness, noun

British Dictionary definitions for wilful (2 of 2)

willful
/ (ˈwɪlfʊl) /

adjective

the US spelling of wilful