as in passionate
having a strong sexual desire
a moralist who decried what she regarded as the licentious and corrupt culture of the entertainment industry
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Recent Examples of licentious
Whereas The Swimming-Pool Library transpires over one London summer — the last licentious gasp before AIDS— and The Line of Beauty spans the Thatcher era, Hollinghurst has lately been expanding his temporal horizons.
—
Sam Worley, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2024
Woodhull’s inability to counter the caricature of her as evil and licentious doomed her campaign.
—Allison Lange / Made By History, TIME, 6 Aug. 2024
And finally, modern far-right terrorists still frequently invoke the same libelous assertion that white women must be protected from licentious Black men.
—TIME, 14 May 2024
With his passing Thursday morning at the age of 65, Variety looks at the most memorable moments of Shane MacGowan’s licentious legacy.
—A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 30 Nov. 2023
Freedom’s licentious behavior shocks many of her fellow villagers, who conclude that her bottle must have contained some powerful intoxicant.
—Salman Rushdie, The New Yorker, 31 Oct. 2023
Ahmed is referring to the era in Tangier's history, beginning in the interwar period and peaking in the 1950s, when the city served as a licentious playground for a motley assortment of artists, socialites, and hedonists.
—Stephanie Rafanelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2023
His diaries offered a ‘worldly, intelligent, licentious, highly indiscreet’ entree into elite gay and artistic circles.
—Tim Page, Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2022
Living in a New York City doorman apartment, wearing clothes with subtle, correct labels, cutting out carbs and sugar in an effort to asexualize my licentious figure—check, check, and check.
—Jessica Knoll, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2022
Sam Worley, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2024
Woodhull’s inability to counter the caricature of her as evil and licentious doomed her campaign.
—Allison Lange / Made By History, TIME, 6 Aug. 2024
And finally, modern far-right terrorists still frequently invoke the same libelous assertion that white women must be protected from licentious Black men.
—TIME, 14 May 2024
With his passing Thursday morning at the age of 65, Variety looks at the most memorable moments of Shane MacGowan’s licentious legacy.
—A.d. Amorosi, Variety, 30 Nov. 2023
Freedom’s licentious behavior shocks many of her fellow villagers, who conclude that her bottle must have contained some powerful intoxicant.
—Salman Rushdie, The New Yorker, 31 Oct. 2023
Ahmed is referring to the era in Tangier's history, beginning in the interwar period and peaking in the 1950s, when the city served as a licentious playground for a motley assortment of artists, socialites, and hedonists.
—Stephanie Rafanelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2023
His diaries offered a ‘worldly, intelligent, licentious, highly indiscreet’ entree into elite gay and artistic circles.
—Tim Page, Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2022
Living in a New York City doorman apartment, wearing clothes with subtle, correct labels, cutting out carbs and sugar in an effort to asexualize my licentious figure—check, check, and check.
—Jessica Knoll, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for licentious
Adjective
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Gabriella is a cousin of King Charles through her father Prince Michael's side of the family and a passionate musician who played an advisory role around the musical performances for Kate's Together at Christmas carol service in December at Westminster Abbey.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
19 May 2025
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It’s been possible, but hard to find Fettercairn from independent bottlers in the United States, and those who seek it out are passionate about it, Boice said.—
Gina Pace,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
Adjective
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Pour hot cream over chocolate chips in a large heatproof mixing bowl; let stand 3 minutes.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
22 May 2025
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Science funding is a hot topic these days and people have questions about how grants work.—
Kelly S. Mix,
The Conversation,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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Norman Riemer, 54, was arrested on April 30 and is facing five counts of lewd or lascivious molestation against a victim under the age of 12.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
6 May 2025
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He was convicted of two counts of human trafficking and three counts of lewd and lascivious conduct with girls under 16.—
Charles Rabin,
Miami Herald,
5 May 2025
Adjective
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The lustful reggaeton-bachata song about a twisted love affair would shock fans upon its release in the spring of 2005.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2025
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One of my obsessions is the hip-hop love song, and how the exaggerated, theatrical, and lustful nature of the genre makes for some of the realest and funniest depictions of catching feelings.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
2 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Licentious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/licentious. Accessed 27 May. 2025.
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