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
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
Indeed, Black women have historically been viewed by whites as unclean and licentious and therefore undeserving of protection.
—Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 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
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
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
Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2025
Indeed, Black women have historically been viewed by whites as unclean and licentious and therefore undeserving of protection.
—Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 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
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
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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The temperamental Moon and passionate Mars are in a spat, but their abrupt energy can have beneficial effects for your wider circle and your more intimate connections.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Mar. 2026
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But Fieri, a passionate car collector, was cooking up something even more indulgent with the help of his friend Rory at VP Speed Shop.—
Terry Baddoo,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Idyllwild peaked at 87 degrees on Wednesday, hotter than the previous record of 75 degrees in 2004.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The 28-year-old swung a hot bat before his injury and is 4 for 5 with the pair of extra base hits since his return.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
He was charged with lewd and lascivious behavior on a child under 12 years old, according to an arrest affidavit from the Bay County Sheriff's Office in Panama City, Florida.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Duggar was also charged earlier this week with lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim less than 12 years old and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older in connection with the allegations.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
This Valentine’s Day, why not treat yourself to a perfume that beckons lustful strangers in a way not seen since Monica Bellucci at that Sicilian piazza in Malèna.—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The two admit to having always loved each other (that's not a spoiler; the book is nearly 200 years old) and begin a steamy, lustful affair.—
Amanda Luberto,
AZCentral.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Licentious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/licentious. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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