Standard Lemma guide

self-will

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The quality of being willful and ignoring opposition.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

the trait of resolutely controlling your own behavior

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: self-control, self-possession, possession, willpower, will power, self-command

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: resoluteness, firmness, firmness of purpose, resolve, resolution

Narrower terms: nerves, presence of mind

3

noun

Meaning 3

resolute adherence to your own ideas or desires

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: stubbornness, bullheadedness, obstinacy, obstinance, pigheadedness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: resoluteness, firmness, firmness of purpose, resolve, resolution

Narrower terms: impenitence, impenitency, intransigency, intransigence

History

Etymology

From Middle English self-wil, self-wille, from Old English sylfwill, selfwill, selfwille (“self-will”), from Proto-West Germanic *selbawilljō, from Proto-Germanic *selbawiljô (“self-will”), equivalent to self- + will. Cognate with Old High German selbwillo, selpwillo, Old Norse sjalfvili.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: своеволие (svoevolie) — the quality of being willful and ignoring opposition
  • Esperanto: memvolo — the quality of being willful and ignoring opposition
  • German: Eigensinn — the quality of being willful and ignoring opposition
  • German: Eigenwille — the quality of being willful and ignoring opposition
  • Plautdietsch: Ieejensenn — the quality of being willful and ignoring opposition
  • Romanian: încăpățânare — the quality of being willful and ignoring opposition
  • Spanish: voluntad propia — the quality of being willful and ignoring opposition