What is the meaning of willfulness?

Asked by: Enoch Lindgren  |  Last update: May 24, 2026
Score: 4.1/5 (54 votes)

Definitions of willfulness. noun. the trait of being prone to disobedience and lack of discipline. synonyms: fractiousness, unruliness, wilfulness.

What does it mean when a person is willful?

/ˈwɪlfʊl/ Willful means "deliberate" or "stubborn." A child who exhibits willful disobedience knows she is doing something wrong (even if she tries to convince you otherwise).

What is an example of willfulness?

Maybe it's refusing to study for a test, ignoring a chore, or resisting help during a tough situation. This is willfulness at work—the refusal to accept reality or take constructive action.

What is an example of willfully?

referring to doing something intentionally, purposefully and stubbornly. Examples: "He drove the car willfully into the crowd on the sidewalk." "She willfully left the dangerous substances on the property."

What is the meaning of wilful behavior?

If you describe actions or attitudes as wilful, you are critical of them because they are done or expressed deliberately, especially with the intention of causing someone harm.

😎 Willful Meaning - Wilful Defined - Willful Examples - Wilful Definition - Willful Wilful

22 related questions found

What does willfulness mean?

Definitions of willfulness. noun. the trait of being prone to disobedience and lack of discipline. synonyms: fractiousness, unruliness, wilfulness.

Who is a willful person?

Willful suggests a stubborn persistence in doing what one wishes, especially in opposition to those whose wishes or commands ought to be respected or obeyed: that willful child who disregarded his parents' advice.

How to deal with willfulness?

Below are some steps to transition from willful behavior to more willing behavior:

  1. Observe you are being willful. This means notice how your thoughts, emotions, and body postures are changing. ...
  2. Radically accept you are being willful. ...
  3. Turn your mind towards acceptance and willingness.

What is another word for willfully?

Some common synonyms of willful are headstrong, intractable, recalcitrant, refractory, ungovernable, and unruly. While all these words mean "not submissive to government or control," willful implies an obstinate determination to have one's own way.

What are some examples of willful actions?

Common examples of willful misconduct include:

  • Deliberate violation of employer rules. You can be denied unemployment compensation when fired for deliberately violating a company rule. ...
  • Failure to follow an employer's instructions. ...
  • Absenteeism/ Tardiness. ...
  • Failing to meet normal standards of behavior.

What is a willful attitude?

1. : refusing to change your ideas or opinions or to stop doing something. a stubborn and willful child.

What is willfulness in psychology?

Willfulness refers to a state of stubbornness or resistance to change. It involves having a rigid or an inflexible mindset and refusing to consider alternative viewpoints or approaches. Willfulness is seen as a barrier to behavioral change.

What's the difference between intentionally and willfully?

Generally, you would say someone did something on purpose. Intentionally means you meant to do it. Willfully means you resist something in order to do it.

How to prove willfulness?

The government may prove that a false statement was made "knowingly and willfully" by offering evidence that defendants acted deliberately and with knowledge that the representation was false. See United States v. Hopkins, 916 F. 2d 207, 214 (5th Cir.

What are the signs of a strong-willed person?

14 Signs of Mentally Tough People

  • Self and self-sufficiency. You have a clear and strong sense of self. ...
  • Healthy self-esteem. ...
  • Proactivity instead of passivity or reactivity. ...
  • A rational, present mind. ...
  • Emotional literacy and self-reflection. ...
  • Empathy and compassion. ...
  • Adaptability. ...
  • Accepting what is and isn't in your control.

Is willful a negative word?

In an article on the kindness, even altruism apparently shown by parrots, the appropriate adverb would have been “willingly,” a positive term meaning voluntarily or gladly, not “willfully,” a negative one meaning deliberately, obstinately, even maliciously.

What is being willfully ignorant called?

Terminology. Willful ignorance is sometimes called willful blindness, contrived ignorance, conscious avoidance, intentional ignorance, or Nelsonian knowledge.

How do you say "hard headed professionally"?

Synonyms

  1. hard-nosed.
  2. stubborn.
  3. intractable.
  4. unyielding.
  5. inflexible.
  6. uncompromising.
  7. rigid.
  8. hard-line.

How to deal with strong willed people?

5 Ways to Deal with Strong Personalities

  1. Focus on the “what” and not the “how.” More dominant personality types are task-driven people – they want outcomes and don't really care about how to get there. ...
  2. Cut the chit-chat. ...
  3. Give them ownership. ...
  4. Fill the gaps. ...
  5. Don't take it personally.

How to remove someone from their subconscious mind?

Fast ways to forget about someone

  1. Stop virtual stalking. ...
  2. Toss nostalgic memorabilia. ...
  3. No contact rule. ...
  4. Move your body. ...
  5. Transport your mind. ...
  6. Imagine a future, when you'll be with someone who… ...
  7. Forgive to forget. ...
  8. Respect yourself.

What do you call a mentally strong person?

Mental toughness shares key characteristics with grit. Additional synonyms might include resilience, determined, strong-willed, and stalwart.

Is being willful a good thing?

Strong-willed people are successful, yet those who are willful often sabotage success. Willful individuals can be fiercely stubborn in their opinions and pursuit of their goals, ignoring what other people think and need. They often fiercely force their will despite obstacles or negative implications.

What makes someone so strong and willed?

stubbornness. It is this very sense of dignity that forms the foundation of a strong will and nurtures resilience in the face of failures and disappointments. Even when such a person encounters the impossibility of fulfilling their desire, it does not lead them to question their worthiness in wanting it.