Wayward: meaning, definitions and examples

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wayward

 

[ ˈweɪwərd ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

behavior

difficult to control or predict because of wilful or perverse behaviour

Synonyms

headstrong, rebellious, stubborn, unruly, wilful

Examples of usage

  • her wayward son always seemed to be in trouble
  • the company has had to adapt to the wayward nature of the market
Context #2 | Adjective

direction

turning or changing direction unexpectedly or having a sudden change of course

Synonyms

capricious, erratic, fickle, unpredictable, whimsical

Examples of usage

  • the wayward wind blew the leaves in all directions
  • the wayward river meandered through the countryside

Translations

Translations of the word "wayward" in other languages:

🇵🇹 desgarrado

🇮🇳 भटकती

🇩🇪 abtrünnig

🇮🇩 tersesat

🇺🇦 блукаючий

🇵🇱 zbłąkany

🇯🇵 迷子

🇫🇷 égaré

🇪🇸 descarriado

🇹🇷 yoldan çıkmış

🇰🇷 길을 잃은

🇸🇦 ضال

🇨🇿 bludný

🇸🇰 zblúdilý

🇨🇳 迷途的

🇸🇮 izgubljen

🇮🇸 villur

🇰🇿 адасқан

🇬🇪 დაკარგული

🇦🇿 azğın

🇲🇽 descarriado

Etymology

The word 'wayward' originated from Middle English 'wayward', which was a combination of 'way' meaning 'away, from' and 'ward' meaning 'direction'. Originally used to describe someone who strays from the right path or direction, 'wayward' has evolved to encompass broader meanings related to unpredictable behavior or sudden changes in direction.

See also: anyway, byway, multiway, way, wayfarer, wayfinding, waylay, waypoints.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #18,098, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.