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wanton
[ won-tn ]
adjective
- done, shown, used, etc., maliciously or unjustifiably:
a wanton attack; wanton cruelty.
Synonyms: malicious
- deliberate and without motive or provocation; uncalled-for; headstrong; willful:
Why jeopardize your career in such a wanton way?
Synonyms: calculated
a wanton attacker of religious convictions.
Synonyms: inconsiderate, heedless
Antonyms: considerate, careful
wanton behavior.
Synonyms: lustful, concupiscent, libidinous, immoral, dissolute, licentious
Antonyms: restrained
- extravagantly or excessively luxurious, as a person, manner of living, or style.
Synonyms: lavish
Antonyms: restrained
- luxuriant, as vegetation.
- Archaic.
- sportive or frolicsome, as children or young animals.
- having free play:
wanton breezes; a wanton brook.
noun
- a wanton or lascivious person, especially a woman.
verb (used without object)
- to behave in a wanton manner; become wanton.
verb (used with object)
- to squander, especially in pleasure (often followed by away ):
to wanton away one's inheritance.
Synonyms: waste
wanton
/ ˈwɒntən /
adjective
- dissolute, licentious, or immoral
- without motive, provocation, or justification
wanton destruction
- maliciously and unnecessarily cruel or destructive
- unrestrained
wanton spending
- archaic.playful or capricious
- archaic.(of vegetation, etc) luxuriant or superabundant
noun
- a licentious person, esp a woman
- a playful or capricious person
verb
- intr to behave in a wanton manner
- tr to squander or waste
Derived Forms
- ˈwantonness, noun
- ˈwantonly, adverb
Other Words From
- wan·ton·ly adverb
- wan·ton·ness noun
- un·wan·ton adjective
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of wanton1
Example Sentences
Over a decade, his teaching often took place in an atmosphere of what one cadet called “wanton disrespect.”
One of the reasons the Vikings are viewed so negatively is that their violence could seem wanton or irrational.
His story is largely devoid of wanton violence and gratuitous sex.
Lind ruled that evidence that al Qaeda had obtained information via WikiLeaks was also relevant to proving “wanton publication.”
The new movie Pacific Rim has brought robots bursting back into our collective consciousness like wanton property damage.
He stood by the side of the little river, its clear waters showing the fish darting to and fro, as if in wanton play.
Because the Christian regards the hooligan, the thief, the wanton, and the drunkard as men and women who have done wrong.
You only encourage him in his wanton mischief, and no one takes any heed how he torments my poor Margaret.
Wrongs less wanton and outrageous precipitated the French Revolution.
Mary Manley died; an English authoress, of considerable reputation as a writer, but of a wanton and licentious character.
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