wayward

/ˈweɪwɚd/

Meanings

adjective

Given to wilful, perverse deviation from the expected norm; tending to stray

Examples :

"The wayward student often skipped class and refused to do his homework. "

adjective

Obstinate, contrary and unpredictable

Examples :

"My younger brother's wayward behavior made it difficult for him to succeed in school. "

character attitude tendency mind

adjective

Not on target

Examples :

"The dog's wayward barking distracted the children during their homework. "

attitude character tendency way

Related Words

deviation noun

/diviˈeɪʃən/

The act of deviating; wandering off the correct or true path or road

"The child's deviation from the designated walking path led him to a dangerous area near the construction site. "

homework noun

/ˈhəʊmˌwɜːk/ /ˈhoʊmˌwɝk/

Work that is done at home, especially school exercises assigned by a teacher.

"You must do your homework before you can watch television."

perverse adjective

/pəˈvɜːs/ /pɚˈvɝs/

Turned aside; hence, specifically, turned away from the (morally) right; willfully erring; wicked; perverted.

"The child's perverse behavior at school, refusing to listen to the teacher and disrupting class, made learning difficult for everyone. "

behavior noun

[bɪˈheɪvjə] [bɪˈheɪvjɚ]

Human conduct relative to social norms.

"The child's disruptive behavior in class was a concern for the teacher. "

tending verb

/ˈtɛndɪŋ/

(Old English law) To make a tender of; to offer or tender.

""The farmer, tending his customary rent of grain, hoped the lord would accept it despite the poor harvest." "

contrary noun

/ˈkɒntɹəɹi/ /ˈkɑntɹɛɹi/

The opposite.

"The contrary of a good report card is a bad one. "

children noun

[ˈt͡ʃʊld̠ɹ̠ ̝ʷən] [ˈt͡ʃɪl.d̠ɹ̠ ̝ʷən] [tʃɪl.ɹən]

A person who has not yet reached adulthood, whether natural (puberty), cultural (initiation), or legal (majority)

"Go easy on him: he is but a child."

unpredictable noun

/ˌʌnprɪˈdɪktəbəl/ /ˌʌnpɹɪˈdɪktəbəl/

An unpredictable thing.

"The weather today is an unpredictable. "

distracted verb

/dɪˈstræktɪd/ /diˈstræktɪd/

To divert the attention of.

"The crowd was distracted by a helicopter hovering over the stadium when the only goal of the game was scored."

difficult verb

/ˈdɪfɪkəlt/

To make difficult; to impede; to perplex.

"The complicated instructions on the new software difficult me from completing the project on time. "

obstinate adjective

/ˈɒb.stɪ.nət/ /ˈɑb.stə.nət/

Stubbornly adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course, usually with implied unreasonableness; persistent.

"My little brother was obstinate about wanting a new video game, refusing to consider any other activity. "

expected verb

/ɪksˈpɛktɪd/

To predict or believe that something will happen

"He never expected to be discovered."