variants
or wilful
1
: obstinately and often perversely self-willed
a stubborn and willful child
2
: done deliberately : intentional
willful disobedience
willfulness
noun
Examples of willful in a Sentence
a stubborn and willful child
He has shown a willful disregard for other people's feelings.
Recent Examples on the Web
Part of this containment strategy is to stop Chinese company transshipments through Canada and Mexico from engaging in willful U.S. tariff evasion.
—
Jason Schenker, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
Beyond market returns: Time and consistency are essential Given the willful chaos and uncertainty being generated by the Trump administration, there is no telling what the markets and the US economy will do in the foreseeable future.
—Jeanne Sahadi, CNN, 6 Mar. 2025
Carl Thomas, of Morrill, is facing charges including kidnapping, assault, child abuse, willful reckless driving and false imprisonment, the Garden County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
—Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2025
Members are engaging in willful and continuing breach of decorum and the chair is prepared to direct the sergeant at arms to restore order to the joint session.
—NPR, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for willful
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Jason Schenker, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
Beyond market returns: Time and consistency are essential Given the willful chaos and uncertainty being generated by the Trump administration, there is no telling what the markets and the US economy will do in the foreseeable future.
—Jeanne Sahadi, CNN, 6 Mar. 2025
Carl Thomas, of Morrill, is facing charges including kidnapping, assault, child abuse, willful reckless driving and false imprisonment, the Garden County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
—Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2025
Members are engaging in willful and continuing breach of decorum and the chair is prepared to direct the sergeant at arms to restore order to the joint session.
—NPR, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for willful
Cite this Entry
“Willful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/willful. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
willful
adjective
will·ful
variants
or wilful
1
: stubbornly determined to have one's own way
a willful child
2
: done deliberately : intentional
willful obedience
willfulness
noun
Legal Definition
willful
adjective
will·ful
variants
or wilful
: not accidental : done deliberately or knowingly and often in conscious violation or disregard of the law, duty, or the rights of others
willful injury
willfully
adverb
willfulness
noun
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