wayward en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /ˈweɪwə(ɹ)d/
- (Southern-England) audio
- wā'wərd
Etymology
Shortening of away + -ward.
Meanings
-
Given to a wilful, perverse deviation from the expected norm; tending to stray.
Fancies are like shadows . . . you can’t cage them, they’re such wayward, dancing things.
1909 September, L[ucy] M[aud] Montgomery, “The Pointing of Duty”, in Anne of Avonlea, Boston, Mass.: L[ouis] C[oues] Page & Company, →OCLC, page 66:The Ig Nobel awards are arguably the highlight of the scientific calendar. The prizes, which are the wayward son of the more righteous Nobels, are supposed to reward research that makes people laugh, then think.
2004 October 1, Helen Pilcher, “Laughter in the lab”, in Nature, →DOI:He is a brilliant fellow when he chooses to work—one of the brightest intellects of the University, but he is wayward, dissipated, and unprincipled.
1904 June, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “The Adventure of the Three Students”, in The Return of Sherlock Holmes, New York, N.Y.: McClure, Phillips & Co., published February 1905, →OCLC:
- Obstinate, contrary and unpredictable.
-
Not on target.
Bulgaria's only attacking weapon was the wayward shooting of Martin Petrov, whereas England's attacking options were awash with movement in the shape of Rooney, Young and Walcott.
2011 September 2, Phil McNulty, “Bulgaria 0-3 England”, in BBC:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| most wayward | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| more wayward | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Synonyms
sullen · unbending · thwart · adamant · bent on · tenacious · inflexible · stubborn as a mule · intractable · recalcitrant · irrefragable · obstinate · resolute · pigheaded · peremptory · refractory · confirmed · vagabond · persistent · grim · stubborn · dogged · hard-hearted · steadfast · vehement · unyielding · headstrong · incalcitrant · wilful · tough · peevish · stalwart · thran · obstreperous · inveterate · diehard · pertinacious · immovable · certain · vagrant · determined · truculent · hard-nosed · bullheaded · bloody-minded · ardent · willful · rigid · intrepid · mulish · terminal · obdurate · chronic · hardheaded · steady · uncompromising · resolved · self-willed · untiring · insistent · staunch · intransigent
Translations (40)
el ιδιότροπος (given to wilful, perverse deviation from the expected norm; tending to stray) · bg своенравен (given to wilful, perverse deviation from the expected norm; tending to stray) · de widerspenstig (obstinate, contrary and unpredictable) · it ribelle (given to wilful, perverse deviation from the expected norm; tending to stray) · es díscolo (given to wilful, perverse deviation from the expected norm; tending to stray) · sk zcestný (given to wilful, perverse deviation from the expected norm; tending to stray) · fi uppiniskainen (given to wilful, perverse deviation from the expected norm; tending to stray) · fi omapäinen (obstinate, contrary and unpredictable) · de unberechenbar (obstinate, contrary and unpredictable) · mi tīhoihoi (given to wilful, perverse deviation from the expected norm; tending to stray) · pt desobediente (given to wilful, perverse deviation from the expected norm; tending to stray) · de launisch (given to wilful, perverse deviation from the expected norm; tending to stray) · bg опак (obstinate, contrary and unpredictable) · fr déviant (given to wilful, perverse deviation from the expected norm; tending to stray) · fi arvaamaton (obstinate, contrary and unpredictable) · de ziellos (not on target) · mi kapa (given to wilful, perverse deviation from the expected norm; tending to stray) · de eigenwillig (obstinate, contrary and unpredictable) · it disobbediente (given to wilful, perverse deviation from the expected norm; tending to stray) · fr rebelle (obstinate, contrary and unpredictable) · ga dochomhairleach (obstinate, contrary and unpredictable) · nl eigenzinnig (given to wilful, perverse deviation from the expected norm; tending to stray) · fi oikutteleva (obstinate, contrary and unpredictable) · de eigenwillig (given to wilful, perverse deviation from the expected norm; tending to stray) · fi uhmakas (given to wilful, perverse deviation from the expected norm; tending to stray) · bg непокорен (obstinate, contrary and unpredictable) · sv opålitlig (obstinate, contrary and unpredictable) · it ostinato (given to wilful, perverse deviation from the expected norm; tending to stray) · la inconstans (given to wilful, perverse deviation from the expected norm; tending to stray) · it contrario (given to wilful, perverse deviation from the expected norm; tending to stray) · fi niskoitteleva (given to wilful, perverse deviation from the expected norm; tending to stray) · sv egensinnig (given to wilful, perverse deviation from the expected norm; tending to stray) · ru своенравный (obstinate, contrary and unpredictable) · de eigensinnig (given to wilful, perverse deviation from the expected norm; tending to stray) · de ungeraten (obstinate, contrary and unpredictable) · fi kuriton (given to wilful, perverse deviation from the expected norm; tending to stray) · bg капризен (given to wilful, perverse deviation from the expected norm; tending to stray) · koi аскоддя (obstinate, contrary and unpredictable) · pl nieobliczalny (obstinate, contrary and unpredictable) · fa خودسر (given to wilful, perverse deviation from the expected norm; tending to stray)