wanton

adjective wan·ton \ ˈwȯn-tᵊn , ˈwän- \

Definition of wanton

1 a archaic :hard to control :undisciplined, unruly

b :playfully mean or cruel :mischievous

2 a :lewd, bawdy

b :causing sexual excitement :lustful, sensual

3 a :merciless, inhumane

wanton cruelty

b :having no just foundation or provocation :malicious

a wanton attack

4 :being without check or limitation: such as

a :luxuriantly rank

wanton vegetation

b :unduly lavish :extravagant

wanton imagination

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wantonly

adverb

—

wantonness

play \ˈwȯn-tᵊn-nəs, ˈwän-\ noun

See wanton defined for English-language learners

See wanton defined for kids

Examples of wanton in a Sentence

No artist should be subjected to this much wanton affection: it's unseemly, like being hugged by a stranger who won't let go. —James Wolcott, New Republic, 30 Aug. 2004
I also wrote that innocent people would die as a consequence of the wanton, lawless destruction of medical stocks in a dirt-poor country. —Christopher Hitchens, Nation, 31 May 1999
While I was happy to find Mr. Pollan firmly allied with those of us who oppose the wanton broadcast of pesticides and inorganic fertilizers on lawn and garden, I wish he had lingered a little longer over this vital subject. —Maxine Kumin, New York Times Book Review, 9 June 1991
Vandals were guilty of the wanton destruction of the school property.
They were accused of wanton cruelty toward animals.
He showed a wanton disregard for his friend's feelings.
a life of wanton luxury

Recent Examples of wanton from the Web

She was booked into jail on a felony wanton endangerment charge and DUI.

— justin sayers, The Courier-Journal, "Begging for peace amid chaos of drug addiction: 'Come on God, Christi's down'," 27 July 2017
Though the disappearance was unforeseeable — involving, among other misfortunes, a car crash, a wanton tide and a shallow grave — every step leading up to it gets full scrutiny.

— steph cha, latimes.com, "Privileged lives are thrown into chaos in Maile Meloy's page-turning novel 'Do Not Become Alarmed'," 14 July 2017
Defamation is recognised almost everywhere as grounds for a civil claim, in which subjects of wanton and damaging falsehoods can demand financial compensation.

— The Economist, "Don’t say a wordHow powerful people use criminal-defamation laws to silence their critics," 13 July 2017
Thibodeaux pleaded guilty to taking a whooping crane for which there is no season and wanton waste of migratory game birds as well as taking migratory game birds out of season, from a moving vehicle and without a Louisiana hunting license.

— todd masson, NOLA.com, "Man sentenced for shooting whooping crane," 11 July 2017
Seewright is charged with first-degree assault and wanton endangerment.

— thomas novelly, The Courier-Journal, "LMPD arrests suspect in connection with July 4 shootout in Lake Dreamland," 9 July 2017
The wanton madness on the streets and the threat to human life is almost too much to bear.

— corey atad, Esquire, "Baby Driver's Fetishistic Approach to Gun Violence Made Me Squirm in My Seat," 7 July 2017
Once the site of wanton boat trips with Brad Pitt and Matt Damon (like a real-life Ocean’s Eleven!), Lake Como may never be the same now that Ella and Alexander are here.

— michelle ruiz, Vogue, "George and Amal Clooney’s Twins Spotted in Public for the First Time—On a Private Jet to Italy," 6 July 2017
Bell, who was arrested Wednesday after leading police on a short car chase, is also charged with six counts of wanton endangerment, fleeing or evading police, possession of marijuana and criminal mischief.

— darcy costello, The Courier-Journal, "Second man arrested in connection with mid-April homicide in the Chickasaw neighborhood," 5 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wanton.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of wanton

Middle English, from wan- deficient, wrong, mis- (from Old English, from wan deficient) + towen, past participle of teen to draw, train, discipline, from Old English tēon — more at ¹tow

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First Known Use: 14th century

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wanton Synonyms

Synonyms

bawdy, blue, coarse, crude, dirty, filthy, foul, gross, gutter, impure, indecent, lascivious, lewd, locker-room, nasty, pornographic, porny, profane, raunchy, ribald, smutty, stag, trashy, unprintable, vulgar, obscene, X-rated

Antonyms

clean, decent, G-rated, nonobscene, wholesome

Near Antonyms

priggish, prim, prudish, puritanical, staid, straitlaced (or straightlaced), Victorian; correct, decorous, genteel, nice, polite, proper, respectable, seemly; innocuous, inoffensive; acceptable, agreeable, desirable, pleasant, pleasing, welcome; appropriate, becoming, fit, meet, suitable; immaculate, perfect, pure, spotless, virginal; approved, endorsed (also indorsed), sanctioned

wanton

noun wan·ton \ ˈwȯn-tᵊn , ˈwän- \

Definition of wanton

1 a :one given to self-indulgent flirtation or trifling —used especially in the phrase play the wanton

b :a lewd or lascivious person

2 :a pampered person or animal :pet; especially :a spoiled child

3 :a frolicsome child or animal

Examples of wanton in a Sentence

He practiced the anathema he would hurl at her from his pulpit when her shame was known—hussy, slut, harlot and wanton featured heavily … —James A. Michener, Texas, 1985
During the middle years of their marriage … his campaign to free his bride so that she could become a wanton had languished. —Andrew M. Greeley, Ascent into Hell, 1983
My informal education had begun the afternoon in Belleville Park when I discovered that girls were wantons willing to sneak away to shaded glades to be kissed. —Russell Baker, Growing Up, 1982

Recent Examples of wanton from the Web

The extremists have left a trail of wanton, sometimes bizarre, destruction.

— National Geographic, "Iraq's Unique Wildlife Pushed to Brink by War, Hunting," 6 Feb. 2017

Origin and Etymology of wanton

see ¹wanton

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1509

See Words from the same year

wanton Synonyms

Synonyms

flirter, flirt

Related Words

coquet; coquette, jade, soubrette; vamp

wanton

verb wan·ton \ ˈwȯn-tᵊn , ˈwän- \

Definition of wanton

intransitive verb

:to be wanton or act wantonly (see ¹wanton)

transitive verb

:to pass or waste wantonly or in wantonness

—

wantoner

noun

Examples of wanton in a Sentence

It might well be, said Mrs McNab, wantoning on with her memories; they had friends in eastern countries; gentlemen staying there, ladies in evening dress; she had seen them once through the dining-room door all sitting at dinner. —Virginia Woolf, To the Lighthouse, 1927
… for Nature here / Wantoned as in her prime and played at will / Her virgin fancies, pouring forth more sweet, Wild above rule or art, enormous bliss. —John Milton, Paradise Lost, 1667

Origin and Etymology of wanton

see ¹wanton

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1582

See Words from the same year

WANTON Defined for Kids

wanton

adjective wan·ton \ ˈwȯn-tᵊn \

Definition of wanton for Students

1 :not modest or proper :indecent

2 :showing no thought or care for the rights, feelings, or safety of others

wanton cruelty

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wantonly

adverb

—

wantonness

noun

Law Dictionary

wanton

adjective wan·ton \ ˈwänt-ᵊn, ˈwȯnt- \

legal Definition of wanton

:manifesting extreme indifference to a risk of injury to another that is known or should have been known :characterized by knowledge of and utter disregard for probability of resulting harm

a wanton act

by such wanton or willful misconduct

— see also reckless

Note: Wanton reckless, and willful are often used to refer to an aggravated level of negligence that borders on intent and that is often ground for an award of punitive damages.

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