licentiousness

[ lahy-sen-shuhs-nis ]

noun

1. a throwing off of sexual restraint; lewd character or behavior:

   The Hays Code tried to stamp out all lust and licentiousness in American film.

2. wanton disregard or transgression of laws, rules, or moral norms:

   Freedom entails responsibilities, or else it degenerates into licentiousness.

Other Words From

• non·li·cent·ious·ness noun
• o·ver·li·cent·ious·ness noun
• un·li·cen·tious·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of licentiousness¹

licentious ( def ) + -ness ( def )

Example Sentences

Middle and high school students could partake, and the religious credit program would be open to all religions, as long as it “does not undeniably promote licentiousness or practices that are inconsistent with school policy.”

From Seattle Times

Roth’s masterpiece also ruminates on the submerged grief for a deceased brother and the true freedom of anti-Puritan licentiousness.

From Los Angeles Times

And at least one regulator has taken notice of chatbot licentiousness.

From Reuters

Pushing back on “woke lunacy” is valuable, he said, but it may not be worth embracing a politics that “causes Christians to adopt or excuse the disposition of cruelty and licentiousness.”

From New York Times

He also self-published a book, “Alpha Status,” which his website describes as “500+ pages of shocking licentiousness that makes ‘50 Shades of Grey’ read like a children’s story.”

From New York Times