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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective willful differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of willful are headstrong, intractable, recalcitrant, refractory, ungovernable, and unruly. While all these words mean "not submissive to government or control," willful implies an obstinate determination to have one's own way.

a willful disregard for the rights of others

When can headstrong be used instead of willful?

Although the words headstrong and willful have much in common, headstrong suggests self-will impatient of restraint, advice, or suggestion.

a headstrong young cavalry officer

When would intractable be a good substitute for willful?

The words intractable and willful are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, intractable suggests stubborn resistance to guidance or control.

intractable opponents of the hazardous-waste dump

When is recalcitrant a more appropriate choice than willful?

While in some cases nearly identical to willful, recalcitrant suggests determined resistance to or defiance of authority.

acts of sabotage by a recalcitrant populace

Where would refractory be a reasonable alternative to willful?

While the synonyms refractory and willful are close in meaning, refractory stresses resistance to attempts to manage or to mold.

special schools for refractory children

When is it sensible to use ungovernable instead of willful?

The synonyms ungovernable and willful are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

When might unruly be a better fit than willful?

In some situations, the words unruly and willful are roughly equivalent. However, unruly implies lack of discipline or incapacity for discipline and often connotes waywardness or turbulence of behavior.

unruly children

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of willful Lies that constitute willful and harmful ignorance. Christine Winter, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2025 My headlong descent had much more to do with a willful and heedless pursuit of hedonism. Rachel Desantis, People.com, 30 Jan. 2025 On March 19, 2024, Huger was charged with a DUI and DWI on the counts of: 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. Gabriela Silva, TVLine, 26 Feb. 2025 These misguided concerns are due to a willful ignorance of how and why the city is proposing to structure the payments. Pat Dowell, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for willful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for willful
Adjective
  • Boon will play Eddie Harrigan, Kevin’s rebellious son.
    Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 26 Feb. 2025
  • In addition, parents who are too strict might even end up with kids who are extra rebellious.
    Taylor Grothe, Parents, 26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Joking was her version of uncontrollable tears, but Dr. Fenton neither laughed nor pressed to see what was behind Lilian’s inane laughter.
    Yiyun Li, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Separating benefits from employee health also allows businesses to escape uncontrollable, often double-digit, group plan renewals.
    Jack Hooper, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The actor has one daughter with ex-wife Melanie Griffith and has been dating his girlfriend Nicole Kimpel since 2014. 05 of 09 John Lithgow as Lord Farquaad The actor behind the arrogant Lord Farquaad boasts an impressive career that began decades before Shrek came out in 2001.
    Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Many members of its board appeared arrogant in the face of questions from the prosecutor or one of the lawyers.
    Laia Cervelló Herrero, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The surprise that followed was more insidious: a slow and deliberate betrayal in court.
    Dylan Moore, National Review, 1 Mar. 2025
  • The site of bitter urban fighting for much of last year, including the deliberate demolition of towering highrises by both sides, Toretsk—or what was left of it—fell to Russian forces in early February.
    David Axe, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • But four months after becoming the first Republican in two decades to win the popular vote, Trump faces a new reality of needing to tackle some of the most stubborn challenges awaiting any new president and deliver on his campaign promises to lower prices.
    CNN.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Like this Fire sign, Drizella is unapologetically stubborn and impatience, believing she is entitled to nothing but the best.
    Valerie Mesa, People.com, 4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images A defiant President Trump defended imposing new tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico – three of the United States' largest and most crucial trading partners – at a joint session of Congress Tuesday night.
    Obed Manuel, NPR, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Trump, in a defiant victory lap speech lasting roughly 100 minutes, credited his predecessor for high inflation and vowed to bring down the costs of everyday goods while previewing further economic pain from new tariffs.
    Ramsey Touchberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Water signs may relate closely to wise and opinionated Owl while Earth signs may relate to the reserved and — sometimes gloomy — Eeyore.
    Athena Sobhan, People.com, 18 Jan. 2025
  • Finebaum, a former newspaper columnist who moved to Charlotte in 2013, is its opinionated star.
    Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Eversource is asking the court to overturn a 2023 PURA decision that the company claims was based on an arbitrary application of regulatory law and intended to reach a pre-determined decision to slash its rates.
    Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Many of those firings have prompted lawsuits parallel to Dellinger’s that challenge the legality of Trump bypassing language in statutes, including provisions that protect employees at independent agencies from politicized or arbitrary firings.
    Ashley Oliver, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 6 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Willful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/willful. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

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