1
as in stubbornness
a steadfast adherence to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
her unceasing willfulness eventually wore down her critics and opponents
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rebellion
refusal to obey
the trainer was able to correct our dog's willfulness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for willfulness
Noun
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Jefferson’s Democratic-Republicans, by contrast, advanced a more limited vision of federal governance, including a revenue system that relied heavily on tariffs and not at all on internal taxes (like the controversial excise on whiskey that sparked the eponymous rebellion).—
Joseph Thorndike,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025 -
To be clear, not all teens are taking part in some sort of mass rebellion by staring us down.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
17 July 2025
Noun
-
Keyon Monte’s journey through the world of theater has been shaped by persistence, reinvention and a deep love for storytelling.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
12 July 2025
-
For hackers, this method offers the ultimate persistence.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
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When his latest work is once again denied permission by the Ministry of Culture, the censorship pushes him to the edge of defiance.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
25 July 2025
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For many women, something as simple as buying a bikini becomes an act of defiance.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
Noun
-
This seemed to me to stem not from carelessness or spite but obstinacy.—
erin Khuê Ninh
June 17,
Literary Hub,
17 June 2025
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Campbell’s thirst to learn protected him from obstinacy.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
Noun
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But also injuries and ailments at all the wrong times, as well as overt self-will at times.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
16 Feb. 2025
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So for those of us torn between watching the sun get blotted out and getting blotto keeping our attention on a particularly good rock show, this exercise in multi-tasking was a real contest of self-will.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2024
Noun
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And why is the punishment for disobedience akin to literal torture?—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
13 July 2025
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Misbehaviors tagged as disobedience affect Black students disproportionately and are the justification in a third of all suspension and expulsions.—
Meredith Kolodner,
USA TODAY,
1 Apr. 2024
Noun
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The Home Service Insurance segment experienced a decline in premiums, attributed to strategic actions to improve sales quality and persistency, as well as economic pressures such as inflation.—
Quartz Intelligence Newsroom,
Quartz,
13 Mar. 2025
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The Home Service Insurance segment experienced a decline in premiums, attributed to strategic actions to improve sales quality and persistency, as well as economic pressures such as inflation.—
Quartz Intelligence Newsroom,
Quartz,
13 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Given Putin’s intransigence, the U.S.-led peace process the Trump administration has attempted to spark hasn’t achieved anything other than several rounds of prisoner releases between Russia and Ukraine.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
15 July 2025
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Ace Bailey’s landing spot in the NBA 2025 Draft has been the subject of great recent speculation because of his seeming intransigence during the pre-draft process.—
Jack Magruder,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Willfulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/willfulness. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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