promiscuous

[ pruh-mis-kyoo-uhs ]

adjective

1. characterized by or involving indiscriminate mingling or association, especially having sexual relations with a number of partners on a casual basis.

   Synonyms: wild, abandoned, licentious

   Antonyms: chaste

2. consisting of parts, elements, or individuals of different kinds brought together without order.

   Synonyms: motley, confused, mixed

3. indiscriminate; without discrimination; not selective.

   Synonyms: unthinking, thoughtless, random

   Antonyms: selective

4. casual; irregular; haphazard.

promiscuous

/ prəˈmɪskjʊəs /

adjective

1. indulging in casual and indiscriminate sexual relationships
2. consisting of a number of dissimilar parts or elements mingled in a confused or indiscriminate manner
3. indiscriminate in selection
4. casual or heedless

Derived Forms

• proˈmiscuousness, noun
• proˈmiscuously, adverb

Other Words From

• pro·miscu·ous·ly adverb
• pro·miscu·ous·ness noun
• hyper·pro·miscu·ous adjective
• hyper·pro·miscu·ous·ly adverb
• hyper·pro·miscu·ous·ness noun
• nonpro·miscu·ous adjective
• nonpro·miscu·ous·ly adverb
• nonpro·miscu·ous·ness noun
• unpro·miscu·ous adjective
• unpro·miscu·ous·ly adverb
• unpro·miscu·ous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of promiscuous¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin prōmiscuus “mixed up,” equivalent to prō- pro- ¹ + misc(ēre) “to mix” + -uus adjective suffix; mix, -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of promiscuous¹

C17: from Latin prōmiscuus indiscriminate, from pro- ¹+ miscēre to mix

Synonym Study

See miscellaneous.

Example Sentences

Chimps are extremely promiscuous, so if you want to be the father, you have to contend with the female having mated with multiple males.

From Nautilus

He declared that Western women are sexually promiscuous in a manner not even found in the natural world.

From The Daily Beast

War makes strange bedfellows and the U.S. has certainly been promiscuous before choosing its allies in past wars.

From The Daily Beast

Mandegary declared Western women are sexually promiscuous in a manner not even found in the natural world.

From The Daily Beast

Second, I have a pretty promiscuous relationship to the rules.

From The Daily Beast

This “promiscuous” invocation of religious freedom would deny equal rights to those with different religious convictions—or none.

From The Daily Beast

Yet even for the professional vagrant the promiscuous London casual ward of 1864 was not to be extended.

From Project Gutenberg

The galleries are used by a promiscuous company of worshippers, who keep good order and make no undue noises.

From Project Gutenberg

But, how shall we know the wisest and the best from the most depraved, in such a promiscuous throng as usually crowd a theatre?

From Project Gutenberg

Men wreck marriage because they are promiscuous; and women wreck it because they are parasites.

From Project Gutenberg

Gerard was not going to throw himself into any vulgar promiscuous struggle, and collected himself with an effort.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• immoral
• profligate
• wanton