Synonyms of wanton

wanton 1 of 2

adjective

ˈwȯn-tᵊn 

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

• obscene
• vulgar
• pornographic
• foul
• nasty
• dirty
• filthy
• gross
• suggestive
• lascivious
• naughty
• indecent
• unacceptable
• lewd
• blue
• crude
• bawdy
• ribald
• raunchy
• unwanted
• obnoxious
• unpleasant
• impure
• coarse
• abusive
• smutty
• undesirable
• trashy
• disgusting
• offensive
• profane
• stag
• unprintable
• locker-room
• wicked
• infamous
• gutter
• broad
• salacious
• perverted
• X-rated
• depraved
• porny
• immodest
• unbecoming
• soft
• indelicate
• perverse
• off
• scatological
• racy
• indecorous
• kinky
• earthy
• loathsome
• unwelcome
• revolting
• low
• repugnant
• barnyard
• salty
• abhorrent
• repulsive
• objectionable
• gamy
• coarse-grained
• scurrilous
• blamable
• risqué
• louche
• distasteful
• censurable
• repellent
• reprehensible
• exceptionable
• blameworthy
• atrocious
• off-color
• debasing
• hard-core
• soft-core

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• wholesome
• clean
• proper
• puritanical
• Victorian
• decent
• prudish
• correct
• prim
• staid
• polite
• genteel
• appropriate
• respectable
• acceptable
• nice
• decorous
• desirable
• innocuous
• pleasant
• priggish
• pleasing
• meet
• seemly
• suitable
• becoming
• welcome
• agreeable
• pure
• straitlaced
• inoffensive
• G-rated
• nonobscene
• perfect
• fit
• virginal
• immaculate
• sanctioned
• approved
• spotless
• endorsed

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

• passionate
• hot
• lustful
• licentious
• lascivious
• libidinous
• aroused
• lewd
• randy
• salacious
• lecherous
• horny
• immoral
• corrupt
• excited
• itchy
• goatish
• concupiscent
• oversexed
• satyric
• lubricious
• hypersexual
• promiscuous
• degraded
• dissolute
• easy
• debauched
• libertine
• loose
• depraved
• indecent
• degenerate
• fast
• debased
• decadent
• dissipated
• demoralized

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pure
• virtuous
• moral
• frigid
• chaste
• modest
• decent
• immaculate
• celibate
• monastic
• monkish
• maidenly
• innocent
• virginal
• undersexed
• Victorian
• puritanical
• prudish
• priggish
• prim
• lily-white
• straitlaced

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

• cruel
• brutal
• vicious
• savage
• ruthless
• murderous
• barbarous
• sadistic
• merciless
• inhuman
• brute
• barbaric
• fiendish
• heartless
• ferocious
• truculent
• atrocious
• inhumane
• oppressive
• hateful
• malicious
• harsh
• pitiless
• butcherly
• unfeeling
• red in tooth and claw
• fell
• bloodthirsty
• sanguinary
• malignant
• spiteful
• malevolent
• vindictive
• grim
• malign
• hard-hearted
• ironhearted
• cutthroat
• sanguine
• draconian
• stonyhearted
• mean
• nasty
• despiteful
• catty
• heavy-handed
• draconic
• hardhanded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• kind
• benign
• sympathetic
• humane
• compassionate
• warm
• kindhearted
• tender
• charitable
• good-hearted
• benignant
• tenderhearted
• lenient
• merciful
• pitying
• peaceable
• peaceful
• warmhearted
• pacific
• clement

wanton

2 of 2

noun

as in flirt

a person who playfully shows another amorous attention

quite the wanton when he wants to be

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flirt
• vamp
• coquette
• flirter
• coquet
• jade
• soubrette

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of wanton

Adjective

Islamist militant groups are waging a campaign of wanton slaughter against Christians in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to a new report. — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 5 May 2026

Anna Bencosme, 28, was booked into jail on charges of strangulation, endangering the welfare of a minor, and wanton endangerment on Tuesday, April 28, online records show. — Nicole Acosta, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026

Noun

Additional charges included negligently driving a vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner, endangering property, life, and person, as well as recklessly driving a vehicle in wanton and willful disregard for the safety of persons and property. — Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026

His characters enjoy casual conversation but don’t brook wanton confession. — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026