wanton

[won-tn]

adjective

1. done, shown, used, etc., maliciously or unjustifiably.

   a wanton attack; wanton cruelty.

   Synonyms: malicious

2. deliberate and without motive or provocation; uncalled-for; headstrong; willful.

   Why jeopardize your career in such a wanton way?

   Synonyms: calculated

3. without regard for what is right, just, humane, etc.; careless; reckless.

   a wanton attacker of religious convictions.

   Synonyms: inconsiderate, heedless
   Antonyms: considerate, careful

4. sexually lawless or unrestrained; loose; lascivious; lewd.

   wanton behavior.

   Synonyms: lustful, concupiscent, libidinous, immoral, dissolute, licentious
   Antonyms: restrained

5. extravagantly or excessively luxurious, as a person, manner of living, or style.

   Synonyms: lavish
   Antonyms: restrained

6. luxuriant, as vegetation.

7. Archaic.

   1. sportive or frolicsome, as children or young animals.

   2. having free play.

      wanton breezes; a wanton brook.

noun

1. a wanton or lascivious person, especially a woman.

verb (used without object)

1. to behave in a wanton manner; become wanton.

verb (used with object)

1. to squander, especially in pleasure (often followed byaway ).

   to wanton away one's inheritance.

   Synonyms: waste

wanton

/ ˈwɒntən /

adjective

1. dissolute, licentious, or immoral

2. without motive, provocation, or justification

   wanton destruction

3. maliciously and unnecessarily cruel or destructive

4. unrestrained

   wanton spending

5. archaic,  playful or capricious

6. archaic,  (of vegetation, etc) luxuriant or superabundant

noun

1. a licentious person, esp a woman

2. a playful or capricious person

verb

1. (intr) to behave in a wanton manner

2. (tr) to squander or waste

Other Word Forms

• wantonly adverb
• wantonness noun
• unwanton adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wanton¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English wantowen, literally, “undisciplined, ill-reared,” Old English wan- “not” + togen, past participle of tēon “to discipline, rear,” cognate with German ziehen, Latin dūcere “to lead”; akin to tow ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of wanton¹

C13 wantowen (in the obsolete sense: unmanageable, unruly): from wan- (prefix equivalent to _un- ¹ ; related to Old English wanian to _wane ) + -towen, from Old English togen brought up, from tēon to bring up

Example Sentences

The “government” in Gaza is a theocratic, Iranian-backed terror entity whose founding charter drips with unrepentant Jew-hatred and whose leaders routinely celebrate the wanton slaughter of innocent Israelis as triumphs of “resistance.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Vaccine opponents even falsely claim that vaccines contain the cells of aborted fetuses, an explicit reminder of their belief that children are being tainted by the wanton sexualities of modern women.

Read more on Salon

When the world-famous Sycamore Gap tree was illegally felled in September 2023, TV chef and Hairy Biker Si King was among those devastated by the wanton destruction.

Read more on BBC

And of course, those Trump supporters have ignored or otherwise put aside many of the most troubling dimensions of Trumpism, such as racism, nativism, sexism and wanton cruelty.

Read more on Salon

She’s also expressed concerns about Elon Musk’s wanton assault on federal employees.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• arbitrary 
• gratuitous 
• needless 
• senseless 
• unjust 
• unjustifiable 
• unjustified 
• unprovoked 
• vicious 
• willful