wayward
The word “wayward” has 2 syllables: way-ward
It's pronounced as /ˈweɪ.wɚd/
What is synonym and antonym for wayward?
In the thesaurus, “wayward” has 115 synonyms and 47 antonyms.
Here are synonyms and antonyms for wayward along with examples of usage in sentences.
Synonyms for wayward
- aberrant
- adamant
- adamantine
- arbitrary
- bad
- balky
- boisterous
- bullheaded
- capricious
- changeable
- contrary
- contumacious
- cross-grained
- defiant
- delinquent
- difficult
- discourteous
- disobedient
- disorderly
- disrespectful
- dissident
- dogged
- errant
- erratic
- fickle
- flighty
- fractious
- froward
- hardheaded
- headstrong
- ill-bred
- ill-mannered
- ill-natured
- immoral
- immovable
- impertinent
- implacable
- impolite
- impudent
- incompliant
- inconsiderate
- inconstant
- incontrollable
- incorrigible
- indocile
- inflexible
- insolent
- insubordinate
- insurgent
- intractable
- intransigent
- irrepressible
- misbehaving
- mischievous
- monkeying
- monkeyish
- mulish
- mutinous
- naughty
- negativistic
- nonconformist
- noncooperative
- obdurate
- obstinate
- obstreperous
- opinionated
- ornery
- out of hand
- peevish
- pertinacious
- perverse
- pigheaded
- rambunctious
- rebel
- rebellious
- recalcitrant
- recusant
- refractory
- resistant
- restive
- rigid
- rowdy
- rude
- self-indulgent
- self-willed
- stiff
- stiff-necked
- stubborn
- unbending
- uncivil
- uncompliant
- uncompromising
- uncontrollable
- uncontrolled
- uncooperative
- uncouth
- undependable
- undisciplined
- ungovernable
- ungracious
- unmanageable
- unmannerly
- unpredictable
- unpunished
- unrelenting
- unruly
- unstable
- untoward
- unyielding
- variable
- whimsical
- wild
- wilful
- willful
- wrongheaded
Antonyms for wayward
- accepting
- acquiescent
- agreeable
- amenable
- amiable
- behaved
- biddable
- compliant
- conformable
- controllable
- cooperative
- courteous
- decorous
- deferential
- dependable
- disciplined
- docile
- governable
- kowtowing
- manageable
- mannerly
- obedient
- obliging
- obsequious
- orderly
- persuadable
- placable
- pliable
- polite
- proper
- reasonable
- receptive
- respectful
- responsive
- ruly
- servile
- slavish
- steady
- submissive
- subservient
- temperate
- tractable
- trainable
- well-behaved
- well-bred
- willing
- yielding
Meanings of wayward
- adjective
- Given to wilful, perverse deviation from the expected norm; tending to stray.
- Obstinate, contrary and unpredictable.
- Not on target.
Example Sentences
- The teacher struggled to control the wayward students in her class.
- His wayward behavior often got him into trouble with the law.
- A wayward breeze scattered the papers across the lawn.
- The novel tells the story of a wayward son who seeks redemption.
- She tried to help her wayward friend find a better path in life.
On this page you'll find 162 synonyms, antonyms, or another words to wayward, such as: aberrant, accepting, acquiescent, adamant, adamantine, agreeable, amenable.
Make sure to choose synonyms and antonyms that are appropriate for the context of the sentence.
Related Words
obdurate
- abusive
- acrimonious
- adamant
- adamantine
- affectless
- anal-retentive
- austere
- barbarous
- bestial
- bloody-minded
- boorish
- brutal
- brutish
- bullhead
- bullheaded
- callous
- cantankerous
- case-hardened
- cold
- cold fish
- cold-blooded
- compassionless
- confirmed
- contrary
- contumacious
- cruel
- cussed
- deaf to reason
- defiant
- demanding
- desensitized
- determined
- disagreeable
- disobedient
- dogged
- evil-minded
- exacting
- firm
- fixed
- frosty
- froward
- grim
- hanging tough
- hard
- hard-bitten
- hard-boiled
- hard-hearted
- hard-line
- hard-nosed
- hard-shell
- hard-shelled
- hardened
- hardheaded
- harsh
- hateful
- headstrong
- heartless
- heavy-handed
- heedless
- hell-bent
- hidebound
- ill-natured
- ill-tempered
- immovable
- implacable
- inconsiderate
- inconvincible
- indomitable
- indurate
- inexorable
- inflexible
- inhuman
- inhumane
- insensate
- insensitive
- insubordinate
- insurgent
- intractable
- intransigent
- inveterate
- invincible
- iron
- ironfisted
- ironhanded
- ironhearted
- jackbooted
- knock-down-and-drag-out
- malevolent
- malicious
- mean
- merciless
- mulish
- mutinous
- narrow-minded
- obsessive
- obstinate
- opinionated
- oppressive
- ossified
- pachydermatous
- pat
- persistent
- pertinacious
- perverse
- pigheaded
- pitiless
- rancorous
- recalcitrant
- refractory
- relentless
- remorseless
- resolved
- rigid
- rough
- rough-and-tumble
- ruthless
- savage
- self-opinionated
- self-willed
- set
- set in stone
- severe
- single-minded
- slash-and-burn
- sledgehammer
- soulless
- spiteful
- steadfast
- stern
- stiff-necked
- stoney
- stony
- stonyhearted
- stouthearted
- strict
- stubborn
- surly
- take-no-prisoners
- tenacious
- thick-skinned
- thoughtless
- tough
- unbending
- uncaring
- uncharitable
- uncompassionate
- uncompromising
- unconquerable
- uncooperative
- unemotional
- unfeeling
- unflinching
- unfriendly
- ungentle
- ungovernable
- unimpressible
- unloving
- unmanageable
- unmerciful
- unregenerate
- unrelenting
- unruly
- unshakable
- unsparing
- unsympathetic
- unthinking
- unyielding
- vicious
- virulent
- wayward
- wilful
- willful
- wrongheaded
quarrelsome
- acidic
- aggressive
- agonistic
- antagonistic
- argumentative
- assaultive
- bad-tempered
- balky
- battling
- bearish
- bellicose
- belligerent
- bilious
- brawling
- brawly
- bristly
- cantankerous
- captious
- cat-and-dog
- chippy
- choleric
- churlish
- combative
- confrontational
- contentious
- contrary
- controversial
- crabby
- cranky
- cross
- disagreeable
- discordant
- disobedient
- disputatious
- dissentious
- dyspeptic
- excitable
- feisty
- fierce
- fiery
- fighting
- fractious
- fretful
- froward
- gladiatorial
- grouchy
- grumpy
- hardheaded
- hasty
- have chip on shoulder
- headstrong
- hostile
- hot-tempered
- hotheaded
- huffy
- ill-humored
- ill-natured
- ill-tempered
- impassioned
- insubordinate
- intractable
- irascible
- irritable
- litigious
- militant
- mulish
- obdurate
- obstinate
- on the warpath
- ornery
- passionate
- peevish
- perverse
- pettish
- petulant
- pigheaded
- polemic
- polemical
- prickly
- pugnacious
- querulous
- recalcitrant
- refractory
- resistant
- restive
- ructious
- rude
- savage
- scrappy
- self-opinionated
- self-willed
- snappish
- snappy
- splenetic
- stroppy
- stubborn
- surly
- tempestuous
- testy
- thin-skinned
- touchy
- truculent
- turbulent
- ugly
- unbending
- uncompromising
- uncooperative
- unreasonable
- unruly
- unyielding
- vicious
- violent
- war
- warlike
- warring
- waspish
- wayward
- wilful
- willful
wabbly
- aquiver
- atremble
- capricious
- changeable
- convulsive
- dizzy
- erratic
- fickle
- fluctuating
- giddy
- groggy
- inconstant
- palpitating
- precarious
- pulsating
- quaking
- quavery
- quivering
- quivery
- rickety
- rocky
- shaking
- shaky
- shifting
- shivering
- shivery
- shuddering
- shuddery
- staggery
- teetering
- throbbing
- tippy
- tottering
- tottery
- trembling
- trembly
- tremulous
- unreliable
- unsettled
- unsound
- unstable
- unsteady
- vacillating
- variable
- wabbling
- wavering
- wavery
- wayward
- wiggly
- wobbling
- wobbly
bad
- abhorrent
- abominable
- abominably
- abomination
- abysmal
- abysmally
- achy
- acrid
- acrimonious
- acute
- addled
- admirable
- adverse
- afflicted
- aggravating
- aggrieved
- agonized
- ailing
- airsick
- amiss
- anathema
- anguished
- annoying
- appalling
- arch
- atrocious
- atrociously
- atrociousness
- atrocity
- awe-inspiring
- awful
- awfully
- babyish
- badass
- badly
- badness
- baleful
- balefulness
- balky
- baneful
- banned
- bargain-basement
- barred
- base
- bastard
- beastly
- below par
- bilious
- bitchy
- bitter
- black
- blamable
- blameworthy
- bleak
- blemished
- blue
- broken
- brokenhearted
- brummagem
- brutal
- bum
- bush
- bush-league
- cancer
- canker
- careless
- carsick
- cast down
- catty
- caustic
- censurable
- challenged
- cheap
- cheapjack
- cheeky
- cheerless
- cheesy
- childish
- coarse
- comfortless
- common
- condemned
- conscience-stricken
- contagious
- contaminated
- contemptible
- contemptuous
- contrary
- contrite
- cool
- corroded
- corrupt
- corrupted
- corruption
- counterfeit
- crappy
- crestfallen
- criminal
- crippled
- critical
- cruddy
- cruel
- crumbled
- crumby
- crummy
- curdled
- cursed
- curst
- cussed
- cut-rate
- damaged
- damaging
- damnable
- damnably
- dangerous
- dark
- darkening
- darkness
- deadly
- debased
- debauched
- debauchery
- debilitated
- decay
- decayed
- decaying
- decomposed
- decomposing
- decrepit
- defaced
- defective
- defiant
- deficient
- deficiently
- defiled
- defiling
- degeneracy
- degenerate
- degenerated
- dejected
- deleterious
- delinquent
- deplorable
- deplorably
- depraved
- depravedness
- depravity
- deprecating
- depressed
- depressing
- derogatory
- desolate
- despairing
- despicable
- despiteful
- despondent
- destructive
- deteriorated
- detestable
- detestably
- detrimental
- devastating
- devilishness
- devilry
- deviltry
- devious
- diabolism
- difficult
- dirty
- disabled
- disadvantageous
- disagreeable
- disallowed
- disappointed
- disastrous
- disastrously
- disconsolate
- discouraged
- discouraging
- disdainful
- diseased
- disfigured
- disgraceful
- disgusting
- disheartened
- dishonest
- dishonorable
- disintegrated
- disintegrating
- dismal
- disobedient
- disobliging
- disordered
- disorderly
- disparaging
- dispirited
- displeasing
- disreputable
- disrespectful
- dissatisfactory
- dissolute
- distasteful
- distressed
- distressing
- dizzy
- doleful
- dolorous
- down
- down in the mouth
- downcast
- downhearted
- dreadful
- dreadfully
- drear
- dreary
- droopy
- egregious
- egregiously
- el cheapo
- elegiac
- elegiacal
- elfish
- enormity
- envious
- errant
- erring
- erroneous
- evil
- evil-minded
- evildoing
- evilness
- execrable
- execrably
- extreme
- fake
- fallen
- fallible
- fatal
- faulty
- feeble
- fermented
- feverish
- fiendishness
- fierce
- flagrant
- flagrantly
- flashy
- flawed
- forbidden
- forlorn
- foul
- fouled
- fragile
- frail
- from hunger
- froward
- funereal
- galling
- gangrenous
- garish
- gaudy
- ghastly
- gimcrack
- glitzy
- gloomy
- glum
- gnarly
- god-awful
- godawful
- grand
- grave
- gray
- grey
- grieving
- grim
- gross
- grossly
- guilty
- half-assed
- halt
- hangdog
- harmed
- harmful
- harsh
- hateful
- hazardous
- headstrong
- heartbroken
- heartsick
- heartsore
- heavyhearted
- heinousness
- hellish
- hideous
- hopeless
- horrendous
- horrendously
- horrible
- horribly
- horrid
- horrifically
- hostile
- hurt
- hurtful
- hypochondriac
- hypochondriacal
- icky
- ignoble
- ill
- ill-behaved
- ill-mannered
- ill-natured
- illegal
- immature
- immoral
- immorality
- impaired
- imperfect
- imperiling
- imperilling
- impish
- impolite
- imposing
- impressive
- improper
- impudent
- impure
- in pain
- inadequate
- inadequately
- inappropriately
- incapacitated
- incomplete
- inconsiderate
- inconsolable
- incorrect
- incorrectly
- indecency
- indecent
- indecently
- indecorous
- indifferent
- indisposed
- ineffective
- ineffectual
- infamous
- infantile
- infectious
- infective
- inferior
- inferiorly
- infernal
- infirm
- inimical
- iniquitous
- iniquitousness
- iniquity
- injured
- injurious
- inoperative
- insidious
- insolent
- insufficient
- insufficiently
- insurgent
- intense
- interdicted
- intimidating
- intolerably
- intractable
- invalid
- invidious
- irreverent
- irritating
- jaundiced
- jealous
- jejune
- jeopardizing
- joyless
- junky
- juvenile
- kiddish
- killer
- kitsch
- kitschy
- knavish
- lachrymose
- lacking
- lackluster
- lame
- lesser
- lethal
- libertine
- light-headed
- loathsome
- loose
- lousily
- lousy
- low
- low-grade
- low-minded
- low-rent
- low-spirited
- lugubrious
- malefaction
- malevolent
- malicious
- malign
- malignant
- marred
- meager
- meagerly
- meagre
- mean
- mean-spirited
- meanly
- mediocre
- melancholic
- melancholy
- menacing
- meretricious
- mighty
- mildewy
- misbehaving
- mischievous
- miscreant
- miserable
- miserably
- miserly
- moldering
- moldy
- monkeying
- monkeyish
- morbid
- morose
- mournful
- murky
- mutinous
- nasty
- naughtily
- naughty
- nauseated
- nauseating
- nauseous
- nefarious
- negative
- niggardly
- nocuous
- noisome
- nonbinding
- nonvalid
- noxious
- nugatory
- null
- null and void
- objectionable
- obnoxious
- obscene
- obstreperous
- odious
- odiously
- off
- offensive
- ominous
- on the blink
- opprobrious
- ornery
- ostentatious
- out of sorts
- outlawed
- painful
- paltry
- parlous
- pathetic
- peaked
- peaky
- perilous
- pernicious
- perverse
- perversion
- perverted
- pervertedness
- pestiferous
- pestilent
- pestilential
- phoney
- phony
- pixieish
- plaintive
- poisonous
- polluted
- poor
- poorly
- poxy
- prankish
- prejudicial
- prohibited
- proscribed
- puerile
- punk
- putrefied
- putrefying
- putrescent
- putrid
- qualmish
- queasy
- queazy
- rancid
- rancorous
- rank
- rascally
- rebellious
- recalcitrant
- refractory
- regretful
- remorseful
- repellant
- repellent
- reprehensible
- reprehensibly
- reprobate
- repugnant
- repulsive
- resentful
- restive
- revolting
- revulsive
- risky
- roguish
- rot
- rotten
- rottenly
- rotting
- rowdy
- rubbishy
- rude
- rueful
- ruffianly
- ruinous
- run-down
- sad
- saddened
- sassy
- satanism
- saturnine
- scandalous
- scantily
- scantly
- scanty
- scathing
- schlock
- schlocky
- scornful
- scoundrelly
- scrofulous
- scurrility
- scurrilous
- scurrilousness
- scurvy
- seamy
- seasick
- second-class
- second-rate
- seedy
- selfish
- serious
- severe
- shabbily
- shabby
- shaky
- sham
- shameful
- shlock
- shlocky
- shocking
- shoddily
- shoddy
- short
- showy
- sick
- sickened
- sickening
- sickish
- sickly
- sin
- sinful
- sinfulness
- sinister
- skimp
- skimpily
- skimpy
- sleazily
- sleazy
- slipshod
- sly
- snakelike
- snide
- snotty
- somber
- sombre
- sordid
- sorrowful
- sorry
- sour
- soured
- sourish
- spare
- sparely
- spiteful
- splashy
- spoiled
- squalor
- squeamish
- stingily
- stingy
- stinky
- suboptimal
- subpar
- substandard
- sucky
- suicidal
- sullen
- sunk
- supercheap
- swank
- swanky
- symptomatic
- taboo
- tabu
- tacky
- tainted
- tawdry
- tearful
- terrible
- terribly
- thoughtless
- threatening
- tough
- toxic
- transgressing
- trashily
- trashy
- troubled
- troublesome
- troubling
- trumpery
- turned
- ugly
- ultracheap
- unacceptable
- unacceptably
- unauthorized
- unbearably
- unbecoming
- unclean
- uncongenial
- uncontrollable
- uncouth
- under par
- under the weather
- uneasy
- unethical
- unfavorable
- unfortunate
- unfriendly
- ungodly
- ungovernable
- unhappy
- unhealthful
- unhealthy
- unholy
- unkind
- unkindly
- unlawful
- unlovely
- unloving
- unmannerly
- unpalatable
- unpleasant
- unpleasing
- unprincipled
- unquiet
- unrighteous
- unruly
- unsafe
- unsatisfactorily
- unsatisfactory
- unsavory
- unscrupulous
- unseemly
- unsound
- unspeakable
- unspeakably
- unsuitably
- untoward
- unwelcome
- unwell
- unwholesome
- upset
- upsetting
- useless
- valueless
- venomous
- vexatious
- vexing
- vicious
- vile
- vilely
- vileness
- villainous
- villainy
- vindictive
- virulent
- vitiated
- vitriolic
- void
- vulgar
- vulgarly
- wack
- waggish
- wailing
- wanting
- wayward
- weak
- weakly
- weeping
- wicked
- wickedness
- wild
- wilful
- willful
- woebegone
- woeful
- woozy
- worried
- worthless
- wretched
- wretchedly
- wrong
- wrongheaded
- yucky
- yukky
naughty
- adult
- annoying
- arch
- babyish
- bad
- badly behaved
- balky
- bawdy
- blue
- childish
- contrary
- corrupt
- defiant
- dirty
- disobedient
- disobliging
- disorderly
- disrespectful
- dissolute
- elfish
- errant
- evil
- exasperating
- fiendish
- fractious
- froward
- headstrong
- hot
- ill-mannered
- ill-natured
- immature
- impish
- impolite
- improper
- impudent
- inconsiderate
- indecorous
- infantile
- insolent
- insubordinate
- insurgent
- intractable
- jejune
- juvenile
- kiddish
- knavish
- lascivious
- lewd
- loose
- misbehaving
- mischievous
- monkeying
- monkeyish
- mutinous
- obstreperous
- off-color
- ornery
- perverse
- pixieish
- playful
- pornographic
- prankish
- puerile
- purple
- rascally
- raunchy
- rebellious
- recalcitrant
- refractory
- restive
- ribald
- roguish
- rough
- rowdy
- rude
- ruffianly
- selfish
- sinful
- steamy
- teasing
- thoughtless
- tough
- transgressing
- uncontrollable
- uncouth
- ungovernable
- unkind
- unkindly
- unmanageable
- unmannerly
- unruly
- untoward
- waggish
- wanton
- wayward
- wicked
- wild
- wilful
- willful
- worthless
- wrong
- wrongheaded