wilful

CEFRC2

/ˈwɪlfʊl/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

01
adjective
Done deliberately, especially when it causes trouble or disobeys rules.
02
adjective
Extra detail
Stubborn and determined.

Examples

At a glance

Sits at C2 on the CEFR scale

Deep Dive

Extra meaning

In context

Knowingly or unknowingly, every therapist assumes that each client possesses the capacity to change through willful choice.
Mary had taken the whim into her willful head, and Jane could not dissuade her.
"He's as willful as you," Rizpah said. "If you let him hurt himself again, so help me, I'll — "

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Question 1 · Quick check

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The word in print, with each source given in full.

Knowingly or unknowingly, every therapist assumes that each client possesses the capacity to change through willful choice.
2005, Irvin D. Yalom with Molyn Leszcz, The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, page 182
Mary had taken the whim into her willful head, and Jane could not dissuade her.
1893, Edwin Caskoden, When Knighthood Was in Flower, page 110
Let you not be taking it bad, Conchubor, but you’ll get little good seeing her this night, for with all my talking it’s wilfuler she’s growing these two months or three.
1909, John M[illington] Synge, “Act I”, in Deirdre of the Sorrows: A Play, Churchtown: Cuala Press, published 1910, page 5
He was a youth to the end of his days, the heart of a boy with the head of a sage; the heart of a good boy, or a bad boy, but always a wilful boy, and wilfulest to show himself out at every time for just the boy he was.
1910, W[illiam] D[ean] Howells, chapter I, in My Mark Twain: Reminiscences and Criticisms, New York, N.Y.; London: Harper & Brothers Publishers, part first (Memories), page 5
"He's as willful as you," Rizpah said. "If you let him hurt himself again, so help me, I'll — "
1995, Francine Rivers, As Sure as the Dawn, page 232

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From Middle English wilful; equivalent to will + -ful.