libertinism
noun
lib·er·tin·ism
ˈli-bər-ˌtē-ˌni-zəm 
-tə-
: the quality or state of being libertine : the behavior of a libertine
Synonyms
Examples of libertinism in a Sentence
a group of urban bohemians who were better known for their libertinism than for their intellectualism
even by the standards of ancient Rome, Caligula's reign was marked by a libertinism that went beyond the pale
Recent Examples on the Web
To some, the campus became the place where the children of American postwar affluence failed to live up to all that had been invested in them, opting instead for campus protest, radical politics, and libertinism.
—
Adrian Daub / Made By History, TIME, 3 Sep. 2024
In other words, liberals refuse to acknowledge that political liberalism gives rise to private libertinism.
—Becca Rothfeld, Washington Post, 3 July 2024
Each letter affords Stauffer a chance to ruminate on whatever facet of the poet’s history and character happened to be glittering most brightly at the time, from his devotion to the cause of Greek independence in the fight against Ottoman rule to the libertinism for which he is famed.
—The New Yorker, 12 June 2024
The era of libertinism — a philosophy devoted to the pursuit of pleasure — died out in the 19th century.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Jan. 2024
Evil excited certain Surrealists who, for instance, celebrated the predatory libertinism of the Marquis de Sade.
—Peter Schjeldahl, The New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2021
Sade, after all, viewed himself not just as a libertine, but as a philosopher of libertinism (one of his works was titled Philosophy in the Boudoir).
—Mitchell Abidor, The New York Review of Books, 12 Feb. 2020
Long before Christ, the same idea was shared by the European Renaissance, Sophocles, Themistocles, Socrates, Mozart, and Goethe, the quest for a refinement of emotion and libertinism.
—Bohumil Hrabal, Harper's magazine, 25 Nov. 2019
Yet Will’s own moment of libertinism is destined to pass into history at much the same time as Nantwich’s.
—Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2011
Adrian Daub / Made By History, TIME, 3 Sep. 2024
In other words, liberals refuse to acknowledge that political liberalism gives rise to private libertinism.
—Becca Rothfeld, Washington Post, 3 July 2024
Each letter affords Stauffer a chance to ruminate on whatever facet of the poet’s history and character happened to be glittering most brightly at the time, from his devotion to the cause of Greek independence in the fight against Ottoman rule to the libertinism for which he is famed.
—The New Yorker, 12 June 2024
The era of libertinism — a philosophy devoted to the pursuit of pleasure — died out in the 19th century.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Jan. 2024
Evil excited certain Surrealists who, for instance, celebrated the predatory libertinism of the Marquis de Sade.
—Peter Schjeldahl, The New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2021
Sade, after all, viewed himself not just as a libertine, but as a philosopher of libertinism (one of his works was titled Philosophy in the Boudoir).
—Mitchell Abidor, The New York Review of Books, 12 Feb. 2020
Long before Christ, the same idea was shared by the European Renaissance, Sophocles, Themistocles, Socrates, Mozart, and Goethe, the quest for a refinement of emotion and libertinism.
—Bohumil Hrabal, Harper's magazine, 25 Nov. 2019
Yet Will’s own moment of libertinism is destined to pass into history at much the same time as Nantwich’s.
—Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2011
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'libertinism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near libertinism
Cite this Entry
“Libertinism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/libertinism. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
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