willful Definition
- 1(of an action) intentional and deliberate; done on purpose
- 2(of a person) having or showing a stubborn and determined intention to do as one wants, regardless of the consequences
Using willful: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "willful" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
He made a willful decision to ignore the advice of his doctor.
Example
The child was being willful and refused to go to bed.
Example
She was accused of willful misconduct in the workplace.
Example
The company was fined for willful violation of safety regulations.
willful Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for willful
Antonyms for willful
Idioms Using willful
a child who is stubborn and determined to do what they want, regardless of what others say
Example
The little girl was a willful child who always got her way.
the act of intentionally setting aside one's skepticism or critical faculties in order to believe something that is not true or real
Example
The movie relied heavily on the audience's willful suspension of disbelief to make the story believable.
Example
The company was fined for willful violation of safety regulations.
Phrases with willful
the act of deliberately ignoring information that could be relevant to a decision or action
Example
The company's executives were accused of willful blindness regarding their environmental impact.
the act of choosing to remain ignorant about something, despite having the opportunity to learn about it
Example
His willful ignorance of the facts led to his failure in the exam.
a deliberate and intentional act that violates rules or standards of behavior
Example
The employee was fired for willful misconduct in the workplace.
Origins of willful
from Old English 'wilful', meaning 'full of will'
Summary: willful in Brief
'Willful' [ˈwɪlfʊl] describes an action that is intentional and deliberate, or a person who is stubborn and determined to do as they please. Examples include 'He made a willful decision to ignore the advice of his doctor.' and 'The child was being willful and refused to go to bed.' Phrases like 'willful blindness' and idioms like 'a willful child' extend the term's usage.
