C2adjectiverelationshipspsychology
US/ˈweɪ.wərd/
UK/ˈweɪ.wəd/
behaving badly and hard to control, or not going in the expected direction
In context
The film is about a teacher who helps wayward teenagers turn their lives around.
Her parents worried that their wayward son would drop out of school.
A wayward football flew over the wall and smashed a window.
Words that go with wayward
adjective + noun
- wayward sonIn the story, the wayward son returns home after years away.
- wayward teenagerThe charity runs summer camps for wayward teenagers from the city.
- wayward youthStrict boarding schools were once thought to fix wayward youth.
- wayward behaviorHer parents blamed social media for her wayward behavior.
- wayward childRaising a wayward child can test even the most patient parents.