willful misconduct

Intentional bad behavior

Willful misconduct is deliberate wrongdoing or reckless disregard for rules or consequences.

The term appears most often in legal and insurance contexts, where it describes behavior worse than mere negligence—the person knew their actions were wrong or dangerous and proceeded anyway: The policy excludes coverage for willful misconduct.

Proving willful misconduct typically requires showing intent or conscious indifference.

recklessnessCareless disregard for danger
malpracticeHarmful professional negligence
negligenceFailure to exercise care
malfeasanceUnlawful act by officeholder
abuse of powerMisusing entrusted authority

penalty · liability · dereliction · dishonesty · defiance · breach of duty · restitution · noncompliance · violation · bad faith · culpability · moral turpitude · intentional harm · fraud · cover up · conflict of interest · corruption · sanction

Opposites

intentionality

willful misconductunintentional harm

Injury caused without intent

honest mistake · careless mistake · oversight · accidental injury · inadvertence

moral/ethical quality of action

willful misconductethical behavior

Morally principled conduct

good behavior · moral rectitude · integrity · probity

compliance with standards

willful misconductdue diligence

Pre-transaction reasonable care

rule-following · good standing · obedience · best practices

Family

will, wills, willed, willing, willingly, willfulness, willfully, full, fuller

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Negative · Rated PG