wayward means given to a wilful, perverse deviation from the expected norm; tending to stray. It carries an Arena rating of 1639, earned across 3 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, wayward ranks #2,308 of 14,431 for Most Betrayed by Its Sound, #2,430 of 14,340 for Most Vivid Words, #6,241 of 14,361 for Most Ingenious Words, #7,082 of 14,423 for Most Sublime Words.
wayward is pronounced /ˈweɪwə(ɹ)d/.
Why “wayward” is a great word
Given to wilful, perverse, and unpredictable deviation from what is expected or desired. A shortening of Middle English 'awayward', from 'away' combined with the directional suffix '-ward' (meaning 'tending toward'), it literally signifies 'tending to turn away'. Unlike 'rebellious', which implies active, organized resistance, or 'vagrant', which denotes physical wandering, 'wayward' describes a more capricious, moral straying from the path. It is the compass needle spinning free of magnetic north, the lock of hair that refuses the comb, the stream that braids and unbraids across a meadow rather than follow the channel dug for it—small, private insurrections against direction itself, a quiet testament to the sheer, vexing force of things that simply will not go along.
Etymology
Shortening of away + -ward.
adj
- Given to a wilful, perverse deviation from the expected norm; tending to stray.“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.”
- 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.”
noun
- Someone, especially a young woman or girl, who is wayward.“the wild, half-starved youth whom we style incorrigibles, delinquents, and waywards”
Words closest in meaning
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