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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But the Seahawks and their passionate fans will take it; this title represents Seattle's second Super Bowl triumph and exacts a measure of revenge for the heart-wrenching, last-second defeat in Super Bowl 49.—
Jim Reineking,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
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Adler was a particularly passionate crusader against the scourge of child labor.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Although Venus is nearly twice the distance from the Sun as Mercury and receives only about 29% of the radiation-per-unit-area that Mercury receives, Venus, not Mercury, is the Solar System’s hottest planet.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
5 Feb. 2026
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Serve with hot pickled peppers on top for more zing in every bite.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Initially arrested on multiple counts of lewd and lascivious battery of a victim between 12 and 16 years old, he was charged in January with two more counts, both charges of possession of child pornography, court records show.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Feb. 2026
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One of them, Marcelino Olguin, also pleaded guilty to lewd and lascivious acts on a child under 14 and was sentenced to seven years in state prison.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Yes, Netflix's Regency-era romance drama (Season 4 Part 1 now streaming) has returned for a new year of lustful glances, hopelessly star-crossed lovers and absolutely absurd balls for a fourth go-round, this time with a story all about the second Bridgerton son, Benedict (Luke Thompson).—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
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Just don’t make the mistake of thinking that all the girls from 20 to 54 who haven’t glanced in your direction in 25 years are suddenly going to swoon with lustful gazes.—
Oc Register,
Oc Register,
18 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Licentious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/licentious. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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