Wilfulness
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 The state or condition of being wilful; stubbornness. UK, uncountable, usually
"“I want ye all to know,” she said, with a clearing-up snuff, “dat it’s my will an’ pleasure to go right on doin’ my work jes’ de same; an’, Missis, please, I’ll allers put three eggs in de crullers, now; an’ I won’t turn de wash-basin down in de sink, but hang it jam-up on de nail; an’ I won’t pick up chips in a milk-pan, ef I’m in ever so big a hurry;—I’ll do eberyting jes’ as ye tells me. Now you try me an’ see ef I won’t!” / Candace here alluded to some of the little private wilfulnesses which she had always obstinately cherished as reserved rights, in pursuing domestic matters with her mistress."
- 2 the trait of being prone to disobedience and lack of discipline wordnet
Example
More examples"And it was very curious indeed to see the younger sister's eyes suffused with tears, and something fervently and deeply felt, breaking through the wilfulness of what she said, and striving with it painfully."
Etymology
From wilful + -ness.
More for "wilfulness"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.