Synonyms for willful
ˈwɪl fəlwill·ful

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. willfuladjective

   Done in a manner which was intended.

   Synonyms:
   voluntary, volitional

2. willfuladjective

   Stubborn.

   Synonyms:
   spiteful, headstrong, obstinate, self-willed

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. willful

   Synonyms:
   purposed, deliberate, designed, intentional, prepense, premeditated, preconcerted, wayward, refractory, stubborn, self-willed, headstrong

   Antonyms:
   undesigned, accidental, unintentional, unpremeditated, docile, obedient, amenable, manageable, deferential, considerate, thoughtful

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:4.0 / 2 votes

1. willful, wilfuladjective

   done by design

   "the insult was intentional"; "willful disobedience"

   Synonyms:
   froward, headstrong, self-willed, wilful

   Antonyms:
   obedient, nonvoluntary, involuntary, unvoluntary

2. froward, headstrong, self-willed, willful, wilfuladjective

   habitually disposed to disobedience and opposition

   Synonyms:
   froward, wilful, headstrong, self-willed

   Antonyms:
   unvoluntary, obedient, involuntary, nonvoluntary

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:2.0 / 1 vote

1. willfuladjective

   Synonyms:
   refractory, headstrong, perverse, disobedient, inflexible

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "willful":

   deliberate, intentional, wilful, stubborn

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How to use willful in a sentence?

1. Rod Rosenstein:

   Even the best law enforcement officers make mistakes and ... some engage in willful misconduct, we can only hope to maintain public confidence if we correct mistakes, hold wrongdoers accountable and adopt policies to prevent problems from recurring.

2. Marc Edwards:

   I can't help but comment on the qualities that seem to be valued in administrators at the EPA: willful blindness, in this case to the pain and suffering of Flint residents; unremorseful for their role in causing this man-made disaster; and completely unrepentant.

3. Richard K. Morgan:

   Society is, always has been and always will be a structure for the exploitation and oppression of the majority through systems of political force dictated by an élite, enforced by thugs, uniformed or not, and upheld by a willful ignorance and stupidity on the part of the very majority whom the system oppresses.

4. Roger Abramson:

   There's no way you could reasonably associate choosing to go without vaccinations for Covid... and assuming that you're in the same spot as a Jewish person in Nazi Germany, to me, it's willful ignorance.

5. Leo Buscaglia:

   Change is the end result of all true learning. Change involves three things: First, a dissatisfaction with self -- a felt void or need; second, a decision to change to fill the void or need; and third, a conscious dedication to the process of growth and change -- the willful act of making the change, doing something.