wilful
English
Alternative forms
- willful (American)
Etymology
From Middle English wilful; equivalent to will + -ful.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈwɪlfʊl/, /ˈwɪlfəl/
- Hyphenation: wil‧ful
Adjective
wilful (comparative more wilful or wilfuller, superlative most wilful or wilfullest) (British spelling)
- Intentional; deliberate.
- 2005, Irvin D. Yalom; Molyn Leszcz, The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, page 182:
- Knowingly or unknowingly, every therapist assumes that each client possesses the capacity to change through willful choice.
- Synonyms: volitional, voluntary
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- Stubborn and determined.
- 1893, Edwin Caskoden, (Please provide the book title or journal name), page 110:
- Mary had taken the whim into her willful head, and Jane could not dissuade her.
- 1995, Francine Rivers, As Sure as the Dawn, page 232:
- "He's as willful as you," Rizpah said. "If you let him hurt himself again, so help me, I'll — "
- 2007, Roger K. Thomas, Kinshu: Autumn Brocade, translation of original by Teru Miyamoto, page 136:
- You had a pampered upbringing, and possessed enough of a willful streak that I wanted to slap you at times
- Synonyms: obstinate, self-willed, headstrong, spiteful
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Derived terms
- unwilful (UK), unwillful (US)
- wilfully (UK), willfully (US)
- wilfulness (UK), willfulness (US)
- wilful blindness (UK), willful blindness (US)
- wilful ignorance (UK), willful ignorance (US)
Translations
intentional
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stubborn
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