SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
willful
adjective
Done intentionally; also stubbornly determined to follow one's own wishes.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Intentional
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topWillful action is done intentionally. Premeditated and planned additionally imply advance consideration; voluntary emphasizes freedom of choice.
Stubbornly self-directed
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topWillful conduct insists on one's own wishes. Defiant and disobedient specifically concern resistance to another's authority.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See willful in use
The inquiry distinguished a willful omission from an accidental filing error.
The apprentice's willful refusal to clear his bench is explicit when he says that he understands the request and has decided to ignore it.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license