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Suffix · forms adjectives

-willed

Describes how strong someone's willpower is: strong-willed (determined) versus weak-willed (easily swayed).

In Spanish: de voluntad / de carácterLiterary

Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated August 2026

What this suffix does

-willed forms compound adjectives that describe the strength, quality, and moral direction of a person's will — their capacity for determination, resistance, and self-direction. Strong-willed, iron-willed, weak-willed, self-willed, ill-willed — each compound describes not just how much determination someone has but what that determination is like and where it is pointed. These compounds are among the most powerful character descriptors in English because the will is seen as the core of moral agency: how you will something says everything about who you are.

How it is formed

Adjective + willed.

  • strong + willed
    strong-willed (determined)
  • weak + willed
    weak-willed (easily swayed)
  • iron + willed
    iron-willed (unshakeably determined)

This is not a productive rule you can apply freely: it is a closed set of fixed expressions. Learn them one by one as set phrases.

How it is pronounced

-willed

Tap the button to hear how the ending sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.

Examples

Base word
With -willed
In a phrase
  • strongstrong-willedHer strong-willed daughter never backs down from a challenge.
  • ironiron-willedThe iron-willed coach pushed the team through every setback.
  • weakweak-willedHe's too weak-willed to say no to his friends.
  • selfself-willedThe self-willed toddler insisted on picking his own clothes.
  • illill-willedThe ill-willed comment was clearly meant to hurt her.

Common mistakes

strong-willed = stubborn and difficult
strong-willed is usually admiring — it implies admirable determination

"Strong-willed" and "stubborn" are related but not synonyms. "Stubborn" focuses on the refusal to change, usually seen as a flaw. "Strong-willed" focuses on the force and stability of the will, usually seen as a virtue — admirable persistence, resistance to pressure, the capacity to hold a course despite difficulty. Context can tip it either way, but the default charge is positive.

weak-willed = weak in general
weak-willed specifically means lacking willpower or self-discipline, not general weakness

"Weak-willed" is specifically about willpower and the capacity for self-discipline and resistance to temptation. Someone can be physically powerful, intellectually brilliant, and emotionally resilient while being weak-willed in specific areas (around food, spending, commitments). The weakness is targeted, not general.

A trick to remember it

In English the "will" carries enormous moral weight — it is the capacity that makes a person responsible for their choices. -willed compounds are therefore some of the most direct character judgments in the language. "Iron-willed" praises the hardness and reliability of a person's determination; "weak-willed" is a deep criticism of their moral reliability. When you use these compounds you are not just describing behaviour — you are passing judgment on character.

Practise what you learned

Exercise 1 · Form the word

Fill in: "She was too ___ to abandon the project even when three of her partners had already given up." (showing great determination, resistant to giving up)

Hint: Strong + willed = whose will is strong and resistant to pressure.

Exercise 2 · Pick the right one

"The iron-willed negotiator refused every compromise that would have weakened the agreement." What does "iron-willed" suggest?

Exercise 3 · Form the word

Fill in: "Critics described the policy as ___, serving only the narrow interests of its designers." (driven by malicious intentions, designed to harm others)

Hint: Ill + willed = whose will is directed toward harm.

Frequently asked questions

What does the suffix -willed mean in English?

The suffix -willed describes how strong someone's willpower is: strong-willed (determined) versus weak-willed (easily swayed). In Spanish it usually maps to de voluntad / de carácter.

Can you give an example of a word with -willed?

"strong" becomes "strong-willed". It is a typical example of the -willed suffix.

Other useful suffixes

  • -hearted

    Describes someone's emotional character: warmhearted (kind, affectionate) and coldhearted (unfeeling, unkind).

  • -minded

    Describes someone's way of thinking: open-minded (accepting of new ideas) versus narrow-minded (closed off, intolerant).

  • -spirited

    Describes someone's energy or attitude: high-spirited (lively, energetic) and free-spirited (unconventional, independent).

Learn every English suffix

-tion, -ness, -ful, -ly, -able... every ending you need to understand thousands of words at once.

View all suffixes
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