willfully

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "willfully" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an intentional or deliberate act or omission, particularly when it is done stubbornly and contrary to the facts or the advice of others. For example: "The defendant willfully disregarded the terms of the contract."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

On Tuesday, Bayer said in another column in Magyar Hirlap that his words had been willfully distorted and his only intention was to "make something happen" with the Roma issue.

The Guardian

I want to make a difference in how our country is run - we must have a social conscience, without which we devolve entirely into a greedy, selfish, self agrandising, and willfully ignorant country.

The Guardian

To insist that extremely violent American entertainments had nothing to do with this is willfully obtuse.

The Economist

This has allowed those on the other side of the debate folks like Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich and, most recently, Michael Steele to willfully mislead the public for political gain.In the end, though, even with perfect media coverage and perfect politicians, should we really expect a large majority of the public to understand the terms of the health-care debate?

The Economist

As well as vindicating Apple, the jury awarded it $1 billion in damages an amount that could be tripled because Samsung is deemed to have "willfully" copied some aspects of Apple's wildly popular iPhone and its iPad tablet computer.The outcome of the case will have significant repercussions in the tech world.

The Economist

"Whenever I hear a policymaker say people are living longer as a justification for raising the retirement age, I immediately think they don't understand the research or, worse, they are willfully ignoring what the data say .Take a minute to process this.

The Economist

Adam B at the Daily Kos writes that the "conservative activist Supreme Court" erred by brushing off the 15,000 pages of evidence establishing discriminatory practices in jurisdictions covered by Section 4. (Matt Berreto shares more evidence of voting discrimination that Chief Justice Roberts willfully ignored).

The Economist

It would be all too easy to assume that Hungary had up to now been run to Athenian standards of democracy, with Swiss levels of integrity, and that Fidesz is willfully ruining it.

The Economist

With respect to large, systemically important banks, they over-relied on credit rating agencies and turned a willfully blind eye to risk that was offset in theory but not in reality, such as the risk built up in off-balance sheet credit vehicles or risk hedged by undercapitalised counterparties.

The Economist

Among his milder comments he calls it:a badly written, willfully misleading, dangerous apologia for the advancing specter of revanchist Russian imperialism He also suggests that it is part of a wider PR effort to sanitise Russia's image.That is unfair to Mr Hitchens.

The Economist

But the publicity surrounding the trial and the finding that Apple willfully violated antitrust laws cannot be helpful for a company that prides itself on maintaining a reputation for being clean and customer-friendly.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "willfully" to convey a strong sense of intent, especially when someone is acting against advice, rules, or accepted norms. It adds a layer of culpability or defiance to the action.

Common error

Avoid confusing "willfully" with "willingly". "Willfully" implies a deliberate and often defiant choice, whereas "willingly" simply means doing something voluntarily. For example, "He willfully ignored the warning signs" versus "He willingly helped with the project".

Linguistic Context

The adverb "willfully" primarily functions to modify verbs, indicating the manner in which an action is performed. It specifies that the action is done deliberately and intentionally, often implying a disregard for rules, consequences, or the advice of others. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage denotes a strong sense of intent.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Encyclopedias

17%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverb "willfully" denotes a deliberate and intentional action, often with a connotation of defiance or disregard. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, from news and media to encyclopedias and scientific writing. While it shares some semantic overlap with terms like "intentionally" and "deliberately", it carries a stronger emphasis on the actor's awareness and conscious choice to proceed, even in the face of potential negative consequences. When using "willfully", ensure that it accurately reflects the intentional and often defiant nature of the action you're describing. This helps maintain precision and clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intentionally

Emphasizes a planned or deliberate action, focusing on the actor's purpose.

deliberately

Highlights the careful consideration and premeditation behind an action.

knowingly

Indicates awareness of the consequences or implications of an action.

consciously

Stresses the actor's awareness and intention at the time of the action.

purposefully

Highlights the goal-oriented nature of the action.

by design

Implies a calculated and planned approach, often contrasting with accidental occurrences.

on purpose

A more direct and common way to express intentionality.

wantonly

Suggests a reckless and malicious intention behind the action.

obstinately

Emphasizes the stubborn and unyielding nature of the action.

rebelliously

Indicates defiance and resistance to authority or norms in the action.

FAQs

How is "willfully" used in a sentence?

"Willfully" is an adverb that describes how an action is performed. It suggests that the action is done intentionally and deliberately, often in defiance of rules or expectations. For instance, "The company "willfully" violated environmental regulations."

What's the difference between "willfully" and intentionally?

Both "willfully" and "intentionally" indicate a deliberate action. However, "willfully" often carries a stronger connotation of defiance or stubbornness. If someone acts "willfully", they are not only aware of what they are doing, but are also doing it in spite of knowing it might be wrong or harmful.

Which is correct, "willfully ignorant" or "willingly ignorant"?

"Willfully ignorant" is the more common and often more appropriate phrase. It describes someone who deliberately chooses to ignore facts or information. "Willingly ignorant" could suggest a more passive acceptance of ignorance, though it's less frequently used.

What can I say instead of "willfully"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "deliberately", "intentionally", "knowingly", or "purposefully". Each of these words emphasizes the intentional nature of the action, but "willfully" often adds a stronger sense of defiance.