wayward

The word "wayward" describes someone or something that goes off the expected course. It is often used for people, especially children, whose behavior is hard to control because they do not listen, follow rules, or accept guidance. A wayward child may keep disobeying their parents, and a wayward teenager may keep making poor choices even when others try to help.

The idea of straying from a path still matters. A wayward animal may have wandered away, and a wayward branch of a story or line of thought may drift away from the main direction. The word can also describe something that behaves irregularly, such as a wayward shot that misses its target or a wayward glance that moves where it should not.

In tone, "wayward" is usually more serious than "naughty." It often suggests a repeated habit of going astray, not just one small act of disobedience. Sometimes it carries a note of sympathy, especially when describing a person who seems lost, troubled, or difficult to guide rather than simply bad.

So whether it describes a person's behavior, an animal that has strayed, a thought that wanders, or movement that misses its course, "wayward" points to something off track, difficult to guide, or no longer following the expected path.