English Dictionary |
SELF-WILL
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Dictionary entry overview: What does self-will mean?
• SELF-WILL (noun)
The noun SELF-WILL has 2 senses:
1. resolute adherence to your own ideas or desires
2. the trait of resolutely controlling your own behavior
Familiarity information: SELF-WILL used as a noun is rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
Resolute adherence to your own ideas or desires
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Synonyms:
bullheadedness; obstinacy; obstinance; pigheadedness; self-will; stubbornness
Hypernyms ("self-will" is a kind of...):
firmness; firmness of purpose; resoluteness; resolution; resolve (the trait of being resolute)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "self-will"):
impenitence; impenitency (the trait of refusing to repent)
intransigence; intransigency (the trait of being intransigent; stubbornly refusing to compromise)
Sense 2
Meaning:
The trait of resolutely controlling your own behavior
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Synonyms:
possession; self-command; self-control; self-possession; self-will; will power; willpower
Hypernyms ("self-will" is a kind of...):
firmness; firmness of purpose; resoluteness; resolution; resolve (the trait of being resolute)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "self-will"):
nerves (control of your emotions)
presence of mind (self-control in a crisis; ability to say or do the right thing in an emergency)
Context examples
“Don't you know that they are both mad with their own self-will and pride?”
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
There, he had learnt to distinguish between the steadiness of principle and the obstinacy of self-will, between the darings of heedlessness and the resolution of a collected mind.
(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)
“You, resent his self-will!” she exclaimed.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
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