wilful with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wilful with" is not commonly used in standard written English and may be considered awkward or incorrect in certain contexts.
It could be used when describing someone's intentional or deliberate behavior in relation to something or someone, but it is not a widely accepted phrase. Example: "His actions were wilful with disregard for the consequences."

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

This Leo Mars can also be proud and wilful, with an aggression that is not always obvious and a prima-donna haughtiness that is difficult to accommodate.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Later accounts describe him there as "wilful, headstrong" with "an overwhelming burning desire to secure an education".

Wikipedia

He calls the work "a wilful romance with an object of scorn".

The Guardian - Music

The infant princess Aurora, meanwhile, is endowed with wild, wilful ways by fairies with names like Feral and Tantrum, and watched over by the ambiguous Count Lilac, King of the Fairies.

The Guardian

He also describes the trials and rewards of working with the wilful Taylor, Burton and O'Toole, and explains with some frankness how he came to discover that their agents, who produced the film, planned it as a tax loss and had no intention of allowing it to go into profit.

The Guardian - Film

With saintly patience, Mr Fukuyama put up with wilful misunderstandings of what he had meant, and soon turned to other large subjects.

The Economist

Haywood, also known as Esra, is charged with wilful, deliberate and premeditated attempted murder, aggravated mayhem and assault with a deadly weapon, a knife.

The Guardian

Biehal questions plans to charge social workers with wilful neglect if children in their care suffer abuse: "I don't agree with the criminalisation of a workforce and we must be careful of not making a political point out of child protection, as has happened so often in the past.

The Guardian

Fifteen of them, aged between 21 and 67, were charged with wilful obstruction of the highway.

The Guardian

The first chapter, set in the novel's present day of 1980, proceeds with wilful leisure, alighting here and there on arbitrary detail.

The Guardian - Books

Yvone Francis-Parmar, 50, Eshe Graham, 20, Lisa Robinson, 48, and Malachi Glaiester Thomas, 30, appeared at Nottingham magistrates court last week charged with wilful obstruction of a highway.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "wilful with", ensure the context clearly indicates a deliberate and intentional action or state combined with another element. Consider if a more common phrase might be clearer and more impactful.

Common error

Avoid overuse of the phrase "wilful with", as it can sound awkward or unnatural in many contexts. Opt for more direct and common expressions to convey the intended meaning effectively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wilful with" functions as an adjectival modifier followed by a preposition. It typically describes a manner or quality associated with a subsequent action or state, indicating intention coupled with another characteristic.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "wilful with" is a grammatically acceptable but uncommon phrase used to describe intentional actions coupled with specific attitudes or qualities. Ludwig AI suggests that it is not commonly used in standard written English and may be considered awkward in certain contexts. The phrase appears across various sources, including news media and general reference, but its rare frequency suggests considering clearer and more direct alternatives for effective communication. When you need a word choice that denotes a deliberate action done with a certain attitude it's important to evaluate which word choice can better serve you and be clearer.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deliberate with

Replaces "wilful" with "deliberate", focusing on the intentional aspect.

intentional with

Substitutes "wilful" with "intentional", highlighting the planned nature of the action.

purposeful with

Uses "purposeful" instead of "wilful", emphasizing the aim or goal behind the action.

determined with

Replaces "wilful" with "determined", focusing on resolve.

obstinate with

Employs "obstinate" to suggest a stubborn or inflexible nature.

stubborn with

Uses "stubborn" instead of "wilful", denoting a resistance to change or persuasion.

intransigent with

Replaces "wilful" with "intransigent", indicating an unwillingness to compromise.

unyielding with

Substitutes "wilful" with "unyielding", emphasizing inflexibility.

headstrong with

Replaces "wilful" with "headstrong", suggesting impulsive behavior.

resolute with

Uses "resolute" instead of "wilful", focusing on a firm or unwavering decision.

FAQs

How can I use "wilful with" in a sentence?

While not a common phrase, "wilful with" can be used to describe a deliberate action coupled with a specific attitude or behavior. For example: "He approached the task wilful with determination."

Are there better alternatives to "wilful with"?

Yes, depending on the context, alternatives like "deliberate with", "intentional with", or "purposeful with" might be clearer and more widely accepted.

Is "wilful with" grammatically incorrect?

No, "wilful with" is not strictly grammatically incorrect, but it's an uncommon phrasing. The grammar is valid, but it's unusual which may cause confusion.

What does "wilful" mean on its own?

The word "wilful" on its own describes someone or something that is determined to do exactly as they want, even if it annoys other people or is dangerous, and is most commonly used in legal contexts such as "wilful damage".