SuaviloquyToday’s word

wayward

Wayward, a.

Etymology: [OE. weiward, for aweiward, i. e., turned away. See Away, and -ward.]

Taking one's own way; disobedient; froward; perverse; willful. My wife is in a wayward mood. Shak. Wayward beauty doth not fancy move. Fairfax. Wilt thou forgive the wayward thought Keble. -- Way"ward*ly, adv. -- Way"ward*ness, n.

Shades of meaning

Fernald has no entry of its own for wayward; he lists it under perverse.

Where he writes about it:

Wayward refers to a perverse disregard of morality and duty; froward is practically obsolete; untoward is rarely heard except in certain phrases; as, untoward circumstances. — from perverse

Synonyms

perversecontraryfactiousfractiousfrowardintractableobstinatepetulantstubbornungovernableuntowardwilful

Antonyms

accommodatingamenablecomplaisantcompliantgenialgovernablekindobliging

etymologyWebster’s online