Willful

Pronunciation: /ˈwɪlfəl/

Definitions of willful

adjective deliberate or intentional; done on purpose

Example Sentences

A1 She is a willful child who always wants her own way.

A2 The teacher tried to reason with the willful student, but he refused to listen.

B1 Her willful behavior caused problems in the workplace.

B2 Despite his willful nature, he eventually learned to compromise for the sake of the team.

C1 The CEO's willful decision to ignore the advice of his advisors led to the company's downfall.

C2 Her willful disregard for the rules resulted in her expulsion from the organization.

Examples of willful in a Sentence

formal The defendant's willful disregard for the law led to severe consequences.

informal She's so willful, always doing things her own way.

slang Don't be so willful about it, just go with the flow.

figurative His willful determination to succeed propelled him to great heights.

Grammatical Forms of willful

• past tense: willed
• plural: willfuls
• comparative: more willful
• superlative: most willful
• present tense: willful
• future tense: will be willful
• perfect tense: have been willful
• continuous tense: is being willful
• singular: willful
• positive degree: willful
• infinitive: to willful
• gerund: willfuling
• participle: willfulled

Origin and Evolution of willful

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old English

Story behind the word: The word 'willful' originated from the Middle English word 'wilful' which was derived from the Old English 'wilfulle' meaning 'full of will.'

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'willful' evolved to describe someone who is stubborn, obstinate, or intentional in their actions, often with a negative connotation. It has also come to be associated with someone who acts deliberately or with determination.