HEADSTRONG Synonyms: 134 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'headstrong' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of headstrong are intractable , recalcitrant , refractory , ungovernable , unruly , and willful . While all these words mean "not submissive to government or control," headstrong suggests self-will impatient of restraint, advice, or suggestion. // a headstrong young cavalry officer

Q: When can 'intractable' be used instead of 'headstrong'?

The words intractable and headstrong are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, intractable suggests stubborn resistance to guidance or control. // intractable opponents of the hazardous-waste dump

Q: When would 'recalcitrant' be a good substitute for 'headstrong'?

The words recalcitrant and headstrong can be used in similar contexts, but recalcitrant suggests determined resistance to or defiance of authority. // acts of sabotage by a recalcitrant populace

Q: When could 'refractory' be used to replace 'headstrong'?

While in some cases nearly identical to headstrong , refractory stresses resistance to attempts to manage or to mold. // special schools for refractory children

Q: When might 'ungovernable' be a better fit than 'headstrong'?

The meanings of ungovernable and headstrong largely overlap; however, ungovernable implies either an escape from control or guidance or a state of being unsubdued and incapable of controlling oneself or being controlled by others. // ungovernable rage

Q: Where would 'unruly' be a reasonable alternative to 'headstrong'?

While the synonyms unruly and headstrong are close in meaning, unruly implies lack of discipline or incapacity for discipline and often connotes waywardness or turbulence of behavior. // unruly children

Q: In what contexts can 'willful' take the place of 'headstrong'?

In some situations, the words willful and headstrong are roughly equivalent. However, willful implies an obstinate determination to have one's own way. // a willful disregard for the rights of others

headstrong

adjective

ˈhed-ˌstrȯŋ

Definition of headstrong

as in stubborn

given to resisting control or discipline by others a headstrong child who likes to test the limits of his parents' patience

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in adamant

sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion the tenants of the building remain headstrong in their determination not to be evicted by the developer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective headstrong differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of headstrong are intractable, recalcitrant, refractory, ungovernable, unruly, and willful. While all these words mean "not submissive to government or control," headstrong suggests self-will impatient of restraint, advice, or suggestion.

a headstrong young cavalry officer

When can intractable be used instead of headstrong?

The words intractable and headstrong are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, intractable suggests stubborn resistance to guidance or control.

intractable opponents of the hazardous-waste dump

When would recalcitrant be a good substitute for headstrong?

The words recalcitrant and headstrong can be used in similar contexts, but recalcitrant suggests determined resistance to or defiance of authority.

acts of sabotage by a recalcitrant populace

When could refractory be used to replace headstrong?

While in some cases nearly identical to headstrong, refractory stresses resistance to attempts to manage or to mold.

special schools for refractory children

When might ungovernable be a better fit than headstrong?

The meanings of ungovernable and headstrong largely overlap; however, ungovernable implies either an escape from control or guidance or a state of being unsubdued and incapable of controlling oneself or being controlled by others.

ungovernable rage

Where would unruly be a reasonable alternative to headstrong?

While the synonyms unruly and headstrong are close in meaning, unruly implies lack of discipline or incapacity for discipline and often connotes waywardness or turbulence of behavior.

unruly children

In what contexts can willful take the place of headstrong?

In some situations, the words willful and headstrong are roughly equivalent. However, willful implies an obstinate determination to have one's own way.

a willful disregard for the rights of others

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of headstrong The newest season showed Renner's character Mike McLusky confronting a gang war and contending with a headstrong new warden, played by Falco. — Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 13 Feb. 2026 Lama, a social activist of several decades, sheds any sense of artifice in playing the headstrong Pirati, a woman whose convictions are as compelling as her desires, her vulnerabilities and even her hypocrisies. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 May 2026 Another Paradise tenant, Lady Diana (Monika Myers), a headstrong teenager with Down syndrome, is the closest thing the film has to comic relief. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026 Elle Woods, the headstrong sorority girl turned Harvard Law student played by Reese Witherspoon in the 2001 film, charms her way into the Ivy League law school through relentless studying and an out-of-the-box admissions video essay. — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for headstrong

Recent Examples of Synonyms for headstrong

Adjective

Colombia earned its passage into the round of 16 with a 1-0 win over stubborn Ghana.

— Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Pickle Robot’s Physical AI unloaders tackle the dock door bottleneck, which is a stubborn pain point in inbound logistics, while AmbiStack handles the structured, high-volume stacking that feeds downstream operations.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 6 July 2026

Definition of stubborn

Adjective

While waiting to go to court, Zaayer remained adamant that Shawna needed to go to prison but was also convinced that David — who worked at the nearby jail — was protecting his wife from receiving an adequate punishment, per The Guardian.

— Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
But Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has been adamant that there are not enough votes in the Senate to pass the legislation, given the 60-vote filibuster threshold.

— Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 28 June 2026

Definition of adamant

Adjective

For seven seasons, a hodgepodge crew mixing Starfleet and the rebellious Maquis put aside their differences after they got zapped 70,000 lightyears away from Earth, deep into the uncharted Delta Quadrant.

— Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 4 July 2026
This could bring about sudden ideas, or trigger rebellious impulses and creative imagination.

— Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026

Definition of rebellious

Adjective

In 2018, the IRS closed the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP), ending the formal disclosure program designed primarily for taxpayers with potential criminal exposure or willful violations relating to unreported offshore holdings.

— Virginia La Torre Jeker, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Federal law generally prohibits direct service connection for addiction classified as resulting from willful misconduct.

— Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 29 June 2026

Definition of willful

Adjective

The jealousy that emanates from every pore of this guy is uncontrollable.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 27 June 2026
An uncontrollable laugh when tickled is vastly different from a polite laugh in a meeting, an infectious laugh during a movie, or a nervous little giggle after making a mistake.

— Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 25 June 2026

Definition of uncontrollable

Adjective

The Legislature has repeatedly rejected stiffer criminal penalties for wayward operators and stymied efforts to let cities or counties pick up enforcement slack when state inspectors are overburdened.

— Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 5 July 2026
The National Fire Protection Association encourages everyone to leave the fireworks to the professionals who are prepared to manage any wayward sparks.

— Lauren Lowman, The Conversation, 29 June 2026

Definition of wayward

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headstreams

headstrong

heads-up

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“Headstrong.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headstrong. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of headstrong

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