willful
/ˈwɪlfl/ (bre, ipa) · [wˈɪlfəl] /ˈwɪlfl/ (ame, ipa) · [wˈɪlfəl] /ˈwil-fəl How to pronounce willful (audio)/ (ame, mw)
willful — adjective
- willfulpositive
- more willfulcomparative
- most willfulsuperlative
1. done on purpose even though the person knows the action breaks a law, rule, or d
done on purpose even though the person knows the action breaks a law, rule, or duty
Mia was fired for willful misconduct after deleting company files on purpose.
collocation: willful misconduct (legal context)
The judge described Mr. Faisal's willful tax evasion as a serious crime.
collocation: willful tax evasion
The court ordered the Okonkwo family to pay a fine for their son's willful damage to the school's computer lab.
Sayaka admitted that skipping the safety check was a willful choice, not an oversight.
The court found the factory guilty of willful neglect: the fire alarms had been off for over a year.
- deliberate
less formal; does not carry the same legal weight
- intentional
broader in scope; not always negative
- knowing
emphasizes awareness of wrongdoing rather than the act itself
用法筆記
Frequently used in legal and formal contexts (willful misconduct, willful violation, willful neglect). Distinguish from sense 2: this sense emphasizes knowingly breaking a specific rule, law, or duty.
常見錯誤
2. done deliberately and on purpose, rather than happening by accident or by mistak
done deliberately and on purpose, rather than happening by accident or by mistake
The referee decided the handball was willful and showed Bilal a red card.
willful + sports decision for determining intent
Heloísa's willful silence during the meeting made her disagreement clear to everyone.
Inspector Deng asked whether the locked fire door was a careless oversight or a willful act.
Against the guide's warning, Halima made the willful choice to leave the group and walk home alone.
The investigator could not prove the nurse had shared patient records as a willful act rather than a careless slip.
- deliberate
the most common synonym; neutral in tone
- intentional
the direct opposite of 'accidental'
- purposeful
emphasizes having a clear aim or reason
- conscious
stresses that the person was aware of what they were doing
用法筆記
More neutral than sense 1; does not imply that a rule or law was broken. Used for any action done on purpose, whether harmful or not.
常見錯誤
3. determined to get your own way and unwilling to change your mind, with no concer
determined to get your own way and unwilling to change your mind, with no concern for the wishes or feelings of others
As a child, Nadia was willful and often refused to eat anything but plain rice.
willful describing a child's stubborn personality
Amira's willful grandmother insisted on living alone even after she turned ninety.
The willful puppy ignored every command and kept digging up the flower beds.
Jisoo described her teenage sister as willful but also fiercely independent.
Hugo's willful refusal to change the bridge design delayed construction by six months and doubled the budget.
- stubborn
the most common everyday synonym
- headstrong
similar meaning; often used for young people
- obstinate
more formal; implies unreasonable refusal to change
- self-willed
emphasizes putting your own wishes above others'
- accommodating
willing to adjust to others' needs
用法筆記
Often describes children, pets, or people acting stubbornly. The subject is usually a person or animal whose personality is being described. More personal and emotional than sense 1 or sense 2.