licentious
Americanadjective
-
sexually unrestrained; lascivious; libertine; lewd.
-
unrestrained by law or general morality; lawless; immoral.
- Synonyms:
- profligate, abandoned
- Antonyms:
- lawful
-
going beyond customary or proper bounds or limits; disregarding rules.
adjective
-
sexually unrestrained or promiscuous
-
rare showing disregard for convention
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of licentious
First recorded in 1525–35, licentious is from the Latin word licentiōsus “unrestrained”; see license, -ous
Explanation
Someone who is licentious behaves or speaks inappropriately, usually in regards to sex. What some might call a licentious senior citizen, others would simply refer to as "a dirty old man" (or woman). We usually talk about licentious behavior, but there also can be licentious photographs. Besides being inappropriate, licentious behavior is also usually regarded as immoral. If at all possible, therefore, licentious is a description you should seek to avoid for yourself.
Vocabulary lists containing licentious
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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Novel Study: The Crucible, Act 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Comstock Act is a Victorian-era law named for a vice crusader who took aim at conduct he deemed licentious.
From Slate ● Apr. 8, 2023
Monica dedicated her life to prayers for the salvation of her family, especially her disreputable and licentious son, Augustine.
From Washington Post ● May 10, 2018
In a heated exchange, DSK accused prosecutors of making exaggerated claims to paint him as a licentious figure.
From Time ● Feb. 13, 2015
During his lifetime, La Fontaine was considered licentious by some of his readers.
From The New Yorker ● Jan. 11, 2015
He exercised a vigilant oversight over the morals of his diocese; and his fearless denunciation of the licentious masquerades which were popular at court finally lost him the royal favour.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 8 "Germany" to "Gibson, William" by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
