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Wishful vs Wilful - What's the difference?

wishful | wilful |

As adjectives the difference between wishful and wilful

is that wishful is (obsolete) wished-for; desired, wanted while wilful is intentional; deliberate.

wishful

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • (obsolete) Wished-for; desired, wanted.
  • * 1596 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , V.9:
    • The cry whereof entring the hollow cave / Eftsoones brought forth the villaine, as they ment, / With hope of her some wishfull boot to have.
  • Expressing a wish or longing for something.
  • Aspiring, or seeking advancement.

    • Derived terms

    * wishful thinking

    wilful

    English

    Alternative forms

    *willful (US)

    Adjective

  • intentional; deliberate
  • stubborn and determined

    • Synonyms

    * voluntary

    Related terms

    * volition