1
b
: having no just foundation or provocation : malicious
a wanton attack
2
: being without check or limitation: such as
a
: unduly lavish : extravagant
wanton imagination
b
: luxuriantly rank
wanton vegetation
4
a
: playfully mean or cruel : mischievous
b
archaic
: hard to control : undisciplined, unruly
wantonly
adverb
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
wantoned; wantoning; wantons
: to be wanton or act wantonly (see wanton entry 1)
: to pass or waste wantonly or in wantonness
wantoner
noun
Examples of wanton in a Sentence
Adjective
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
Noun
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
quite the wanton when he wants to be
Verb
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
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
Noun
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
quite the wanton when he wants to be
Verb
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
Recent Examples on the Web
Richard J. Evans, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2017
Human rights organizations have also documented the wanton execution of Alawite civilians by fighters aligned with the government.
—Jerome Drevon, Foreign Affairs, 11 Apr. 2025
Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Jacob Mosley, 23, faces charges of first degree wanton endangerment, second degree assault and second degree criminal abuse in relation to the shooting, Louisville Metro Police spokesperson John Bradley confirmed.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 18 Feb. 2025
Killian Baarlaer, Louisville Courier Journal, 20 June 2025
Last year, a jury awarded 78-year-old Ruby Johnson $3.76 million in damages, finding that found two Denver police officers acted with willful and wanton disregard of Johnson’s constitutional right to be free from an unreasonable search and seizure in 2022, USA TODAY previously reported.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 27 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for wanton
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
There were public demonstrations against a touring exhibition that exposed the crimes of the German armed forces on the eastern front during World War II, which included the massacre of Jews, the killing of civilians, the wanton destruction of enemy property, and much more besides.
—Richard J. Evans, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2017
Human rights organizations have also documented the wanton execution of Alawite civilians by fighters aligned with the government.
—Jerome Drevon, Foreign Affairs, 11 Apr. 2025
Noun
In 2018, Marks was identified as a person of interest in a wanton endangerment investigation after a woman reported to police that another driver cut her off and then pointed a handgun at her during a confrontation at a traffic light.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Jacob Mosley, 23, faces charges of first degree wanton endangerment, second degree assault and second degree criminal abuse in relation to the shooting, Louisville Metro Police spokesperson John Bradley confirmed.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 18 Feb. 2025
Verb
Leonard Pitchford, 37, is charged with first degree wanton endangerment and third degree use of a weapon of mass destruction, Schroeder said.
—Killian Baarlaer, Louisville Courier Journal, 20 June 2025
Last year, a jury awarded 78-year-old Ruby Johnson $3.76 million in damages, finding that found two Denver police officers acted with willful and wanton disregard of Johnson’s constitutional right to be free from an unreasonable search and seizure in 2022, USA TODAY previously reported.
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 27 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for wanton
Cite this Entry
“Wanton.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wanton. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
wanton
adjective
wan·ton
ˈwänt-ᵊn, ˈwȯnt- 
: 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.
wantonly
adverb
wantonness
noun
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