willfulness

Thân thiện

A young child shows willfulness by refusing to put on their coat.

Definition

Noun: 1. The trait of being prone to disobedience and lack of discipline: The quality of being determined to have one's own way, often stubbornly and unreasonably, showing a deliberate disregard for rules, authority, or the wishes of others.

Usage

"Willfulness" describes a persistent, intentional character trait where a person insists on acting according to their own desires, often in a headstrong, obstinate, or defiant manner. It implies a conscious choice to resist guidance or control.

Examples

• The child's willfulness made it difficult for the teacher to manage the classroom.
• Her success was partly due to her willfulness, but it also caused frequent conflicts with her colleagues.
• The court considered the defendant's willfulness in disobeying the order as a sign of contempt.

Advanced Usage

• Legal Context: In law, "willfulness" often refers to an intentional act done with a reckless disregard for the law or the rights of others, which can affect the severity of a charge or penalty.
  • The prosecutor had to prove the willfulness of the violation to secure a conviction.

Variants and Related Words

• Willful (adjective): Describes a person or action characterized by willfulness.
  • He was a willful child who never listened to warnings.
• Willfully (adverb): In a willful manner.
  • She willfully ignored the safety instructions.

Synonyms

• Stubbornness
• Obstinacy
• Recalcitrance
• Intransigence
• Defiance

Antonyms

• Compliance
• Obedience
• Submissiveness
• Tractability
• Docility

Related Phrases and Idioms

• A willful disregard for: A phrase indicating a deliberate and intentional ignoring of something, such as rules or danger.
  • He showed a willful disregard for the company's policies.

Học thuật

Noun

1. the trait of being prone to disobedience and lack of discipline

Từ đồng nghĩa

• unruliness
• fractiousness
• wilfulness