1
as in degradation
a sinking to a state of low moral standards and behavior
a group of urban bohemians who were better known for their libertinism than for their intellectualism
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in corruption
immoral conduct or practices harmful or offensive to society
even by the standards of ancient Rome, Caligula's reign was marked by a libertinism that went beyond the pale
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of libertinism
Still, a story that’s equal parts an exploration of libertinism and also a scorching take on the elite remained a tempting narrative to explore.
—
Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Nov. 2024
Where his first two books take Bulgaria as backdrop and a certain kind of soft-skinned, deeply feeling libertinism as narrative vehicle, Small Rain functions as a midlife sequel, one that is quietly, unabashedly romantic.
—Sarah Thankam Mathews, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2024
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
Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Nov. 2024
Where his first two books take Bulgaria as backdrop and a certain kind of soft-skinned, deeply feeling libertinism as narrative vehicle, Small Rain functions as a midlife sequel, one that is quietly, unabashedly romantic.
—Sarah Thankam Mathews, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2024
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for libertinism
Noun
-
The degradation of individual and societal health spirals downward while the most powerful controllers of the medical and pharmaceutical industries thrive.—
David Marks,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Aug. 2025
-
The degradation and genocide of Indigenous Americans on the mainland is widely known.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
In 1870, lawyers founded the City Bar to confront corruption in the courts under Tammany Hall.—
Muhammad U. Faridi,
New York Daily News,
17 Aug. 2025
-
The billion-dollar plan hoped to stamp out corruption and combat drug cartels.—
Miriam Waldvogel,
The Hill,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Beyond the inherent immorality of thoughtlessly torturing and killing birds and wildlife, Death Pipes are an example of the hidden toll that people and their structures are exacting on nature.—
GrrlScientist,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
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The immorality and inhumanity of these acts have cascaded through families, friends, and communities.—
Nick Gauthier,
Hartford Courant,
7 July 2025
Noun
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Don’t point to things with chopsticks or commit the double-dipping sin of taking food from a common plate with chopsticks that have been in your mouth.—
Jessica Kozuka,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Aug. 2025
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The water is meant to show thanks to god, or provide spiritual relief, including purifying the devotee’s soul of sin.—
Aishwarya S. Iyer,
CNN Money,
25 July 2025
Noun
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Far from an expression of compassion toward animals, it was inspired by a sense of all fleshy things as evil.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
4 Aug. 2025
-
There’s no such thing as good and evil, according to parole boards.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
2 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Libertinism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/libertinism. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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