willful.

1. Persisting in one's own wishes despite advice, rules, or reasonable objections.

2. Done deliberately rather than by accident.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• willful child
• willful refusal

On the page

A willful child hid the map rather than accept another guide.

Her willful refusal cost them the only safe crossing.

Usage notes

Primary category: psychological / character. Forms: Comparative more willful; superlative most willful where gradation is meaningful. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings.