1
as in obscene
depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society
that novel was once regarded as a wanton tale of forbidden love
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in passionate
having a strong sexual desire
in earlier times, novelists usually portrayed wanton women as coming to a bad end
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cruel
having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others
a wanton attack on unarmed civilians
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of wanton
Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026
Mystic Rayne, 53, is facing charges of wanton endangerment and criminal mischief.
—Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 Mar. 2026
Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Armond Langford, 32, is facing multiple charges including robbery, kidnapping, assault, wanton endangerment, fleeing/evading police, burglary and persistent felony offender.
—Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wanton
Adjective
And yet this is the type of building that seems always to be in danger of wanton destruction in Chicago.
—Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026
Mystic Rayne, 53, is facing charges of wanton endangerment and criminal mischief.
—Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 Mar. 2026
Noun
The additional murder charge, filed Friday, requires proving Sahil acted with wanton disregard for others and knowingly engaged in high-risk behavior.
—Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Armond Langford, 32, is facing multiple charges including robbery, kidnapping, assault, wanton endangerment, fleeing/evading police, burglary and persistent felony offender.
—Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wanton
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wanton
Adjective
-
It was seized by the post office (as Rosset had expected) and duly declared obscene by the postmaster of the city of New York, a man named Robert Christenberry.—
Louis Menand,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
Who says a man can’t appreciate the gleaming, obscene form of an Aston Martin supercar or the growl of its overpriced engine?—
Alex James Kane,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
Electronic bugs are installed, secretaries listen in on every phone call and conversation, and rock 'n roll is banned in this cruel culture of absolute secrecy.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
29 May 2026
-
The slaughter of Australian infantry at the hands of Turkish guns on the coastal region of Gallipoli has become emblematic of the pointless loss of life during this cruel conflict.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
The hole’s narrow fairway flirts with disaster on both sides – water and super high rough.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
14 May 2026
-
Sliding effortlessly from incisive observer to chaotic flirt to exhausting narcissist, Firstman is never not in on the joke.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Her husband says that's a very vulgar pet.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
-
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s biographer Andrew Lownie shared a vulgar pickup line that the former prince allegedly used while trying to pick up women.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
Bichette is off to a brutal start, Francisco Lindor’s spring hamate injury may have affected his power even before his calf strain knocked him out for the last month, and Jorge Polanco has barely been on the field.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
-
Hounded by a loud, impatient Eisenhower and faced with the very real evidence that a brutal trio of storms will make an early June invasion impossible, Stagg is torn between doing his duty and, well, doing his duty.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
There is plenty of pornographic decoration in contemporary popular culture, but very little of it is consequential.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
Authorities alleged that their tactics included intimidating the women, placing them under constant surveillance and forcing them to perform pornographic acts that were then shared on social media.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wanton.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wanton. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
