Self-willed — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˌself-ˈwild/

Meaning & Definition of Self-willed

Self-willed (adjective)

  1. governed by one's own will, not yielding to the wishes of others, obstinate

Self-willed (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion

    "a self-willed toddler who refused to take her shoes off in the examining room"

    similar: adamant, adamantine, bullheaded, dogged, hard, hard-nosed, hardened, hardheaded, headstrong, immovable, implacable, inconvincible, inflexible, intransigent, mulish, obdurate, obstinate, opinionated, ossified, pat, pertinacious, perverse, pigheaded, self-opinionated, stiff-necked, stubborn, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding, willful, deaf to reason
    related: anal-retentive, obsessive, wayward, wrongheaded, determined, hell-bent, inexorable, persistent, relentless, resolved, set, single-minded, steadfast, stouthearted, tenacious, unflinching, firm, hard-line, hard-shell, iron, severe, stern, strict, hidebound, narrow-minded, rigid, bloody-minded (chiefly British), cantankerous, contrary, cussed, contumacious, disobedient, froward, insubordinate, intractable, recalcitrant, refractory, uncooperative, ungovernable, unmanageable, unruly, defiant, insurgent, mutinous, indomitable, invincible, unconquerable, confirmed, inveterate, unregenerate, demanding, exacting
    opposite: acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, compliant, complying, flexible, pliable, pliant, relenting, yielding
    near: docile, obedient, placable, submissive, tractable, accepting, persuadable, receptive, responsive, willing, governable, manageable, reasonable, temperate, slavish, subservient

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Self-willed

The most common words with a similar meaning to Self-willed:

adamant, adamantine, bullheaded, dogged, hard, hard-nosed, hardened, hardheaded, headstrong, immovable, implacable, inconvincible, inflexible, intransigent, mulish, obdurate, obstinate, opinionated, ossified, pat, pertinacious, perverse, pigheaded, self-opinionated, stiff-necked, stubborn, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding, willful, deaf to reason

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Self-willed

Words with the opposite meaning of Self-willed:

acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, compliant, complying, flexible, pliable, pliant, relenting, yielding

Related Words for Self-willed

anal-retentive, obsessive, wayward, wrongheaded, determined, hell-bent, inexorable, persistent, relentless, resolved, set, single-minded, steadfast, stouthearted, tenacious, unflinching, firm, hard-line, hard-shell, iron, severe, stern, strict, hidebound, narrow-minded, rigid, bloody-minded, cantankerous, contrary, cussed

Near Antonyms of Self-willed

docile, obedient, placable, submissive, tractable, accepting, persuadable, receptive, responsive, willing, governable, manageable, reasonable, temperate, slavish, subservient

Word Forms of Self-willed

Derived words: self-willedly (adverb), self-willedness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Self-willed

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Self-willed

What does "Self-willed" mean?

"Self-willed" means governed by one's own will, not yielding to the wishes of others, obstinate. As an adjective, it is defined as: governed by one's own will, not yielding to the wishes of others, obstinate.

What is another word for "Self-willed"?

Other words for "Self-willed" include adamant, adamantine, bullheaded, dogged, hard, hard-nosed, hardened and hardheaded. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Self-willed" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Self-willed"?

There are 84 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Self-willed". Common alternatives include adamant, adamantine, bullheaded, dogged, hard, hard-nosed, hardened, hardheaded, headstrong and immovable.

What is the opposite of "Self-willed"?

Antonyms of "Self-willed" include acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, compliant, complying, flexible, pliable and pliant. Near antonyms include docile, obedient, placable and submissive.

How do you use "Self-willed" in a sentence?

Examples of "Self-willed" in a sentence: "a self-willed toddler who refused to take her shoes off in the examining room".

Is "Self-willed" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Self-willed" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Self-willed"?

"Self-willed" is pronounced /ˌself-ˈwild/.

What is the origin of the word "Self-willed"?

First known use: 15th century.