wayward
/ˈweɪwə(ɹ)d/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.09 in modern English
17
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Obstinate, contrary and unpredictable.
adj
Not on target.
Example Sentences
- "He is a brilliant fellow when he chooses to work—one of the brightest intellects of the University, but he is wayward, dissipated, and unprincipled."
- "Fancies are like shadows . . . you can’t cage them, they’re such wayward, dancing things."
- "The Ig Nobel awards are arguably the highlight of the scientific calendar. The prizes, which are the wayward son of the more righteous Nobels, are supposed to reward research that makes people laugh, then think."
- "Bulgaria's only attacking weapon was the wayward shooting of Martin Petrov, whereas England's attacking options were awash with movement in the shape of Rooney, Young and Walcott."
- "the wild, half-starved youth whom we style incorrigibles, delinquents, and waywards"
- "The girls classed as first offenders and waywards gave a higher intelligence quotient than the others."
Etymology
Word Breakdown
Usage
Inflected Forms
more wayward (comparative)
most wayward (superlative)
waywards (plural)