willful decision

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "willful decision" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a choice made intentionally and with full awareness of the consequences. Example: "The board's willful decision to proceed with the merger despite the risks surprised many stakeholders."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Fred Abrahams, a special adviser for Human Rights Watch, said the report was consistent with the alliance's refusal to acknowledge clear mistakes, and revealed a "willful decision not to look at civilian casualties".

The New York Times

But ideological opposition to "The Empire State?" Well, there are plenty of anti-imperialists, but it's hard to imagine many of them making a willful decision to cover up an old slogan.

The New York Times

Barnes agreed that Wilson died because of Barnes' deliberate indifference and willful decision to deprive Wilson of medical care.

Huffington Post

The Justice Department also used Horn's testimony to allege that Volkswagen's installation of the defeat device in some of its vehicles was a "knowing and willful decision to deceive".

Huffington Post

It was good to see after watching so many distraught faces for so long, and I couldn't judge one way or the other on the merits of it the seemingly willful decision to potentially crash the country if that also meant crashing Europe with them.

Vice

And we can do this by letting the best parts of our American character, ingenuity and compassion lead us, but it has to be a willful decision to act, not a delegation of responsibility to corporate lobbyists or deal makers to figure something out and let us know what they come up with.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

"Noncompliance" was often attributed to personal qualities of patients, such as denial, lack of will power or discipline, or willful decisions not to follow the clinician's recommendations.

Diabetes Care

He had resisted an identical impulse when the president was out of his range; impulses don't come and go according to range, but willful decisions do.

The New York Times - Health

Institution-building should be insulated from the diplomatic squabbles of the negotiations by willful political decisions and oversight by the Quartet and its constituent members.

Huffington Post

But more than a few New Yorkers are asking if there is something halfway between a willful master builder and decision (or indecision) by committee.

The New York Times

The Supreme Court must reject this willful disregard of its decision in Boumediene v. Bush, and it can do so by reviewing the case of Adnan Farhan Abd Al Latif, a Yemeni citizen imprisoned at Guantánamo Bay since 2002.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "willful decision" when you want to emphasize that a decision was made intentionally, often despite potential negative consequences or opposition.

Common error

Avoid using "willful decision" in situations where a simple, neutral decision is being described. The term carries a connotation of deliberate intent, sometimes implying stubbornness or defiance. Use "deliberate choice" or "intentional decision" instead /s/deliberate+choice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "willful decision" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "willful" modifies the noun "decision". It indicates a decision made deliberately and intentionally, often with a hint of obstinacy or disregard for potential negative consequences. Ludwig AI confirms this with examples showing deliberate choices.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "willful decision" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment, and the tool's analysis reveals that it’s most often used to describe choices made deliberately and intentionally, sometimes with a connotation of stubbornness or defiance. The contexts where this phrase appears most frequently are in News & Media and Science, where it serves to highlight the intentionality behind actions, often implying awareness of potential negative consequences. When using this phrase, it's essential to consider its implications, ensuring it aligns with the intended message of deliberate intent, and choosing more neutral alternatives like "deliberate choice" when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deliberate choice

Focuses on the careful consideration involved in making the decision.

intentional determination

Highlights the firm intention behind the decision.

conscious resolution

Emphasizes the awareness and understanding that precedes the decision.

purposeful action

Shifts focus to the action resulting from the decision, implying intent.

calculated move

Suggests a decision made with careful planning and anticipation of consequences.

studied judgment

Highlights the thoughtfulness and depth of consideration involved.

reasoned conclusion

Emphasizes the logical basis for the decision.

voluntary election

Focuses on the freedom and lack of coercion in making the decision.

knowing selection

Highlights the awareness and informed nature of the choice.

premeditated plan

Suggests the decision was carefully considered and planned in advance.

FAQs

How can I use "willful decision" in a sentence?

You can use "willful decision" to describe a choice made deliberately, often implying a disregard for potential negative consequences. For example, "The company's "willful decision" to ignore safety regulations led to a serious accident."

What are some alternatives to "willful decision"?

Alternatives include "deliberate choice", "intentional determination", or "conscious resolution", each emphasizing a different aspect of intentionality.

What does "willful" imply in the phrase "willful decision"?

"Willful" suggests that the decision was made intentionally and potentially stubbornly, often against advice or warnings. It can carry a connotation of defiance or disregard for consequences.

Is there a difference between "willful decision" and "intentional decision"?

While both phrases imply a deliberate choice, ""willful decision"" often suggests a stronger sense of determination or even obstinacy, compared to the more neutral "intentional decision".