willful

[wil-fuh l] /ˈwɪl fəl/
adjective
1.
deliberate, voluntary, or intentional:
The coroner ruled the death willful murder.
2.
unreasonably stubborn or headstrong; self-willed.
Also, wilful.
Origin
1150-1200; Middle English; Old English wilful willing. See will2, -ful
Related forms
willfully, adverb
willfulness, noun
half-willful, adjective
half-willfully, adverb
half-willfulness, noun
unwillful, adjective
unwillfully, adverb
unwillfulness, noun
Synonyms
1. volitional. 2. intransigent; contrary, refractory, pigheaded, inflexible, obdurate, adamant. Willful, headstrong, perverse, wayward refer to one who stubbornly insists upon doing as he or she pleases. Willful suggests a stubborn persistence in doing what one wishes, especially in opposition to those whose wishes or commands ought to be respected or obeyed: that willful child who disregarded his parents' advice. One who is headstrong is often foolishly, and sometimes violently, self-willed: reckless and headstrong youths. The perverse person is unreasonably or obstinately intractable or contrary, often with the express intention of being disagreeable: perverse out of sheer spite. Wayward in this sense has the connotation of rash wrongheadedness that gets one into trouble: a reform school for wayward girls.
Antonyms
2. obedient, tractable.
Examples from the web for willful
  • It seems to require willful blindness to what's actually happening in technology.
  • What's not okay with me is if humans die out in a fog of denial and willful ignorance.
  • Their behavior reinforces the stereotype of the church as a stodgy organization steeped in willful ignorance and petulance.
  • They're not preaching fundamentals, they're preaching willful ignorance.
  • Regulators, prosecutors and journalists tend to focus on corruption caused by willful actions or ignorance.
  • People with wondering minds completed significantly more anagrams than did those with willful minds.
  • But it represents a willful impulse to shake up the game.
  • No amount of aid or cooperation will alter this nation's willful self-delusion.
  • In a fair society, everyone gets what they deserve based on their willful choices.
  • One day, they will understand the callousness and bitterness and willful ignorance they currently represent.
British Dictionary definitions for willful

wilful

/ˈwɪlfʊl/
adjective
1.
intent on having one's own way; headstrong or obstinate
2.
intentional: wilful murder
Derived Forms
wilfully, (US) willfully, adverb
wilfulness, (US) willfulness, noun

willful

/ˈwɪlfʊl/
adjective
1.
the US spelling of wilful
Word Origin and History for willful
adj.

c.1200, "strong-willed," from will (n.) + -ful. Willfully is late Old English wilfullice "of one's own free will, voluntarily;" bad sense of "on purpose" is attested from late 14c.