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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Those early bands played a range of styles, though, in a touch of rebellion, stayed away from country at first.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
1 Aug. 2025 -
Ichiro, Madonna, Elvis: think about how each of them is somehow, simultaneously, impossibly, an avatar of both absolute conformity and absolute rebellion.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
27 July 2025
Noun
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Today, those same companies pay Espinoza five-figure speaking fees to train and inspire their senior leaders — proof that persistence, when paired with purpose, creates its own path.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
26 July 2025
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For disillusioned progressives feeling powerless to stop President Trump’s initiatives, La Follette’s career exemplifies the value of rejecting the siren song of frustration and complacency in favor of persistence in pursuing progressive ideals.—
Time,
Time,
16 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
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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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Trump has appeared in recent months increasingly frustrated by Russia's intransigence, plus by its nightly drone and missile strikes across Ukraine.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
22 July 2025
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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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Cite this Entry
“Willfulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/willfulness. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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