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dissolute

[dis-uh-loot]
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adjective
  1. indifferent to moral restraints; given to immoral or improper conduct; licentious; dissipated.
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Origin of dissolute

1350–1400; Middle English (< Anglo-French) < Latin dissolūtus (past participle of dissolvere to dissolve). See dis-1, solute
Related formsdis·so·lute·ly, adverbdis·so·lute·ness, nounun·dis·so·lute, adjective
Can be confuseddesolate dissolute (see synonym study at desolate)

Synonyms

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corrupt, loose, debauched, wanton, abandoned.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

profligacydissolutioncorruptnessdebaucherylicentiousnesscorruption

Examples from the Web for dissoluteness

Historical Examples

  • Overeating and dissoluteness killed her, according to the Lorilleuxs.

    L'Assommoir

    Emile Zola

  • The opportunities for vice and dissoluteness are really less than at home.

  • It is more reasonable to attribute it to the dissoluteness of his life.

  • The priests had degenerated into an army of mercenaries, living in luxury and dissoluteness.

  • Such pleasures are signs of dissipation, dissoluteness, in the literal sense.

British Dictionary definitions for dissoluteness

dissolute

adjective
  1. given to dissipation; debauched
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Derived Formsdissolutely, adverbdissoluteness, noun

Word Origin

C14: from Latin dissolūtus loose, from dissolvere to dissolve
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for dissoluteness

dissolute

adj.

late 14c., "loose, negligent, morally or religiously lax," from Latin dissolutus "loose, disconnected," past participle of dissolvere "loosen up" (see dissolve). A figurative use of the classical Latin word. Related: Dissolutely; dissoluteness.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper