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# wilfulness

noun (wilfulness; US willfulness; uncountable)

«wilfulness» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Being determined to do what you want, even when told not to; stubbornness. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wilfulness/#m1)
2. (formal, law) Doing something on purpose, knowing it is wrong. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wilfulness/#m2)

### In the lessons

In stories and old books: a child's wilfulness gets them into trouble. In law and formal language: wilful damage means damage done on purpose. Tells the reader the person is stubborn or acted deliberately.

### Examples

- The princess's wilfulness made her run away from the palace. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wilfulness/#x1)
- His wilfulness meant he would never listen to advice. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wilfulness/#x2)
- The judge noted the wilfulness of the damage. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wilfulness/#x3)
- The pony's wilfulness made it hard to ride. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wilfulness/#x4)
- Her wilfulness sometimes helped her win, too. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wilfulness/#x5)
- Parents found the toddler's wilfulness tiring. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wilfulness/#x6)

### Note

Spelt «wilfulness» in the UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ, Canada; «willfulness» in the USA. Adjective: wilful/willful. Formal or bookish; everyday: «stubbornness».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «wilfulness» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wilfulness/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«wilfulness» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/wilfulness.html) on Mova free.