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
While Black writers and artists looked to Harlem as a source of optimism and inspiration, whites saw Harlem and other centers of urban Black life as alluring quarters for their more licentious desires.
—
Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
She’s preoccupied though, training a gun on the facility’s head officer, Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn), whose RFK Jr. rasp and licentious focus on Perfidia sets him up as a comedic draw and a convincing picture of America’s sanctioned white violence.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2025
His strained, sandpaper-coarse timbre served as an ideal conduit for songs concerned with boisterous revelries, shady agreements, licentious intentions and musical pleasures.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2025
The mansion has been renovated before, and previous mayor Dave Bing, when newly elected, was transparent about the amount used on upgrades, ending the shroud of licentious rumors regarding the mansion since 2010.
—Leah Olajide, Freep.com, 22 May 2025
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
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
Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
She’s preoccupied though, training a gun on the facility’s head officer, Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn), whose RFK Jr. rasp and licentious focus on Perfidia sets him up as a comedic draw and a convincing picture of America’s sanctioned white violence.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2025
His strained, sandpaper-coarse timbre served as an ideal conduit for songs concerned with boisterous revelries, shady agreements, licentious intentions and musical pleasures.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2025
The mansion has been renovated before, and previous mayor Dave Bing, when newly elected, was transparent about the amount used on upgrades, ending the shroud of licentious rumors regarding the mansion since 2010.
—Leah Olajide, Freep.com, 22 May 2025
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for licentious
Adjective
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Tastad explained that their design team has extensive experience with the brand and is passionate about digging into its archives for design inspiration and re-imagining many of the vintage styles.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
1 June 2026
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Becker has long been passionate about this subject, sensitive to the common critique that California native plants look less than spectacular come summertime.—
Pedro Moura,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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Hazelnut brioches, flaky pastries, blueberry financiers, and madeleines—crafted by the French pastry chef—are neatly stacked in a room adorned with hot pink and coral Bill Bensley artwork.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
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The real risk starts when a pan gets too hot, too damaged or used in the wrong way.—
Ryan Brennan
June 2,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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On Thursday, Billings was charged with an offense against a student by an authority figure and lewd and lascivious touching of certain minors.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2026
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Basil Billings, 62, of Margate, was booked into the Broward Main Jail on one count of offense against a student by an authority figure and one count of lewd or lascivious touching of a minor between 16 and 17 years old, jail records show.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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But to our wonderful surprise, O’Hara is equally adept at slapstick hijinks, as the lustful ladies get sufficiently sozzled awaiting their mysterious beau.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
3 May 2026
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And, no doubt, women in the original 1920s audience presumably had comparable lustful desires as the pair on stage; this was hardly the only Coward comedy of its era to be used for foreplay.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Licentious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/licentious. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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