as in willfulness
a steadfast adherence to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
a schoolboy with a streak of self-will and rebellion
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Recent Examples of self-will
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
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
Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for self-will
Noun
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Those leaders who ignore or flout the law aren’t merely unethical but fatally arrogant, putting their childish willfulness over the wisdom of generations.—
David Brooks,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
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Though the Durutti Column had been a disaster, Wilson was fascinated by the guitarist, who admired punk’s willfulness even though his own musical taste tended toward jazz, blues, and the classical tradition.—
Brad Shoup,
Pitchfork,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
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As for her training, the stubbornness of this dog mix hasn't been an issue.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
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Maybe this stubbornness won’t affect anything.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The natural obstinacy and rebelliousness of Israa’s teenage years are hyperaccelerated by culture clashes with both her family and the other kids around her.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
24 Jan. 2026
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The White House does not seem to have a workaround to Putin’s obstinacy, and Rubio told Hannity that all other parties seeking to end the conflict are hopeless.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Dec. 2025
Noun
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For Samuel, Sargool and Yousif, the recognition speaks to the years of persistence and hard work that went into forming the program in order to help students feel more valued in their language and culture.—
Alexandra Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
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What stands out is a common thread of persistence and impact.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
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 tannins are well structured yet soft and the wine has great persistency in the finish.—
Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen,
Robb Report,
2 May 2023
Noun
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For example, postpartum hair shedding often starts around three to five months post-childbirth, and resolves on its own within three to six months.—
Rebecca Strong,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
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The war is also likely to harden the regime’s resolve to obtain a nuclear weapon, experts say.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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China has gained, not suffered, from this obduracy.—
JONATHAN A. CZIN,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Nov. 2025
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Related: ‘Neglected diseases’ are anything but neglected by the billion-plus people living with them One possible reason for this obduracy is that noma begins as a dental disease, and dental diseases have long been underappreciated global health concerns.—
John Button,
STAT,
16 Dec. 2023
Noun
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That the campaign has become a grind, with little entertainment on offer and an intransigence in the manager’s approach, has added to the sense of angst.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
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Tehran matched American and Israeli rigidity with intransigence and strategic overreach of its own.—
Mehrzad Boroujerdi,
The Conversation,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Self-will.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/self-will. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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