wayward (ˈweɪwəd
)
Definitions
adjective
- wanting to have one's own way regardless of the wishes or good of others
- capricious, erratic, or unpredictable
Alternative Forms
ˈwaywardly adverb ˈwaywardness nounWord Origin
C14: changed from awayward turned or turning awaySynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
erratic,
unruly,
wilful,
unmanageable,
disobedient,
contrary,
unpredictable,
stubborn,
perverse,
rebellious,
fickle,
intractable,
capricious,
obstinate,
headstrong,
changeable,
flighty,
incorrigible,
obdurate,
ungovernable,
self-willed,
refractory,
insubordinate,
undependable,
inconstant,
mulish,
cross-grained,
contumacious,
froward,
Usage examples
Clearly not the wayward Douglas or you would be crying into your latte.
, SANDS OF TIME (2003)And given the choice, even the hotel owner is happy that his wayward daughter finally chooses the right man.
India Today (1998)Club co-owner Chris Murphy said doormen had done everything they could to keep wayward patrons out.
Courier, Sunday Mail (2004)Depp is convincing enough as Jung and Ray Liotta is in top form as the decent dad who always stands by his wayward son.
Sun, News of the World (2001)That problem, of course, was raw human nature, a wayward quality that human beings could well do without.
, Unitive Thinking (1988)