licentious

[ lahy-sen-shuhs ]

adjective

1. sexually unrestrained; lascivious; libertine; lewd.
2. unrestrained by law or general morality; lawless; immoral.

   Synonyms: profligate, abandoned

   Antonyms: lawful

3. going beyond customary or proper bounds or limits; disregarding rules.

licentious

/ laɪˈsɛnʃəs /

adjective

1. sexually unrestrained or promiscuous
2. rare.
   showing disregard for convention

Derived Forms

• liˈcentiousness, noun
• liˈcentiously, adverb

Other Words From

• li·cen·tious·ly adverb
• li·cen·tious·ness noun
• non·li·cen·tious adjective
• non·li·cen·tious·ly adverb
• o·ver·li·cen·tious adjective
• o·ver·li·cen·tious·ly adverb
• un·li·cen·tious adjective
• un·li·cen·tious·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of licentious¹

First recorded in 1525–35, licentious is from the Latin word licentiōsus “unrestrained”; license, -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of licentious¹

C16: from Latin licentiōsus capricious, from licentia licence

Example Sentences

The Comstock Act is a Victorian-era law named for a vice crusader who took aim at conduct he deemed licentious.

From Slate

Japan and the West had different sexual mores, but Japan’s culture was not particularly licentious or permissive.

From Washington Post

The book, said New Yorker writer Janet Flanner, was “worldly, intelligent, licentious, highly indiscreet.”

From Washington Post

The late writer Janet Flanner called it “worldly, intelligent, licentious, highly indiscreet.”

From Seattle Times

He’s a licentious cad — flip and arrogant, a little romantic but mostly skeevy, and shallow as a Champagne coupe.

From New York Times