wantonly

[ won-tn-lee ]

adverb

1. willfully and thoughtlessly; recklessly:

   We wantonly destroy the ecosystem that gives us life when we take out more than it can afford to give.

2. without regard for what is right, just, or humane; maliciously and unjustifiably:

   Those who wantonly and cruelly beat, abuse, or ill-treat these animals will be punished.

3. in a sensually loose or unrestrained way:

   A single day lived virtuously is worth more than a hundred years lived wantonly and without discipline.

4. in an extravagant or excessively luxurious way:

   Nations cannot continue to spend wantonly, hoping for a bailout that may not come.

5. in a prolific or uncontrolled way:

   A swarm of Asian carp are advancing up the Illinois River, breeding wantonly and gorging on plankton.

Word History and Origins

Origin of wantonly¹

wanton ( def ) + -ly

Example Sentences

The mainstream news media’s failure to decipher Trumpism has repeatedly led them to normalize the wantonly corrupt ex-president’s extremely malignant behavior.

From Salon

The goal is not for Ukraine to wantonly destroy any Russian airfield or shoot down any Russian warplane as far as the Caspian Sea, but it is key that Putin realize Kyiv can and might do so.

From Los Angeles Times

Likewise, per this argument, a president can engage in wantonly corrupt behavior such as accepting bribes and that too would be “legal.”

From Salon

"Then, with its stock price crumbling under the weight of its own mismanagement, circled the wagons to protect its new leaders and wantonly accused" Mr Lynch of fraud, they wrote.

From BBC

Colon, 50, “intentionally, recklessly and wantonly” committed unwanted sexual acts, including engaging in “sexual touching, contact and conduct with the plaintiff,” the lawsuit alleges.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• blatantly
• brazenly
• candidly
• flagrantly
• forthrightly
• fully
• honestly
• plainly
• publicly
• readily
• simply
• unabashedly
• unashamedly
• willingly