willfulness

noun

Definition of willfulnessnext
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

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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

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for willfulness
  1. rebellion
  2. persistence
  3. defiance
  4. obstinacy
  5. disobedience
  6. persistency
  7. intransigence
  8. obduracy
Noun
  • In 1994: Russian tanks and troops invaded its largely Muslim territory Chechnya to try to quash the secessionist rebellion after a three-year push for independence that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union.
    Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Kim was arrested by prosecutors early Wednesday on allegations of playing a key role in a rebellion and committing abuse of power.
    Kim Tong-Hyung and Hyung-Jin Kim, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
Definition of rebellion
Noun
  • The persistence of Marxist ideology — coupled with China’s growing influence in the region — has long had a pernicious effect on the Americas, affording power to bad actors and eroding regional security.
    Christine Balling, National Review, 25 Nov. 2024
  • More From Newsweek Vault: Rates Are Still High for These High-Yield Savings Accounts Others praised the grandma for her wholesome persistence and took her side.
    Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2024
Definition of persistence
Noun
  • In 2018, Rwanda raised tariffs on such imports in defiance of U.S. pressure, citing concerns the West’s refuse undermined efforts to strengthen the domestic textile industry.
    Francis Kokutse, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024
  • The breach culminated in a public display of defiance during a live broadcast of Tate’s Emergency Meeting episode on the video platform Rumble.
    Lars Daniel, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024
Definition of defiance
Noun
  • That is the popular girl’s cross to bear, and the desperate obstinacy that comes with this realization is one of Cody’s main themes.
    Rafaela Bassili, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2024
  • Odenkirk was one of several perfectly cast actors in the episode, a force capable of matching Bernthal’s intensity and obstinacy.
    Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2024
Definition of obstinacy
Noun
  • Zoom in: While the Sheriff Department collected 19 fewer internal complaints and 55 fewer from the public and inmates, 40% were for disobedience of rules.
    Esteban L. Hernandez, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024
  • The disobedience that led to Braun’s removal from that gym might’ve been a trait that needed maturation, but the underlying swagger and cockiness are essential to what his current coach, Michael Malone, wants from him.
    Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 23 Oct. 2024
Definition of disobedience
Noun
  • 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
  • Dan recalled of his daughter’s persistency.
    Eric Sondheimer Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2020
Definition of persistency
Noun
  • While nobody is mourning the fall of Bashar al-Assad—even Iran, Assad's most prolific backer, was getting tired of his intransigence—there are fears about what a post-Assad Syria might have in store.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
  • For some reason, despite a new police chief, despite most of the old players being gone, some of whom were reprimanded, there was still some institutional intransigence into really doing the right thing.
    Brande Victorian, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Nov. 2024
Definition of intransigence
Noun
  • 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
  • Andreas blames the obduracy of U.S. politicians and bureaucrats for the persistence of the drug wars, despite their evident failure and their huge financial and human costs.
    Russell Crandall, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021
Definition of obduracy
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Thesaurus Entries Near willfulness

willfully

willfulness

willies

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Cite this Entry

“Willfulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/willfulness. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.

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