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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wanton
Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2025
Everyone is a guinea pig in an unguided and wanton impactful experiment.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Josh Wood, The Courier-Journal, 23 July 2025
Graue is charged with wanton endangerment of a police officer, leaving the scene of an accident and failing to give right of way to an emergency vehicle.
—David Ferrara, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for wanton
Adjective
Addison Brown, 22, is charged with arson, wanton endangerment and murder-domestic violence, according to court records.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2025
Everyone is a guinea pig in an unguided and wanton impactful experiment.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Noun
He was found not guilty of state-level wanton endangerment charges related to shots fired that entered the apartment of Taylor's neighbors in March 2022.
—Josh Wood, The Courier-Journal, 23 July 2025
Graue is charged with wanton endangerment of a police officer, leaving the scene of an accident and failing to give right of way to an emergency vehicle.
—David Ferrara, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for wanton
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wanton
Adjective
-
Not only are hospital CEOs paid obscene amounts of money and the hospitals are sitting on fat cash balances, but NewYork–Presbyterian is guilty of something even more grotesque.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Some made obscene gestures, and one held up a paper cursing the president.—
Josh Boak,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Instructor Peggie Moore is passionate about working with students of every age, size, shape and ability.—
Kris Slugg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Kubota is passionate about water, food and the environment.—
Sabbir Rangwala,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Young people are growing up in a climate that can feel cruel, divided or lonely.—
Julie Ruth Owen,
The Orlando Sentinel,
31 Jan. 2026
-
And cutting nurses’ health care benefits is just cruel.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The protagonist of A Love Story is a lover boy, a libertine, a gossip, a flirt.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
4 Dec. 2025
-
Karen was a drunk; Stacey seems to have a reputation for being a liar and a flirt, as Charrisse came onscreen to corroborate.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
Vulture,
1 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
The messages—widely condemned as vulgar, misogynistic, racist, and homophobic—also revealed discussions about manipulating media coverage, targeting political opponents, and casual references to the misuse of public funds.—
Israel Melendez Ayala,
Time,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Phoenix Open conduct code The Thunderbirds maintain a zero-tolerance policy regarding lewd and lascivious conduct, including but not limited to, disorderly or violent behavior and vulgar or violent language.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Although all the signs are there that the charter market is particularly hot in 2026, there are still yachts available to charter in the eclipse’s path.—
Chrissie McClatchie,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The other new entries are DSquared2 (which featured a hot celebrity) and Dolce & Gabbana (which generated heated controversy for its model casting).—
Luke Leitch,
Vogue,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
With the benefit of hindsight, analysts and investors have blamed much of Kraft Heinz’s downward spiral on the brutal cost-cutting strategy imposed after the merger.—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Unrelenting cold in storm’s aftermath Last weekend’s historic winter storm and the brutal cold that followed have been blamed for at least 85 deaths in the US, the Associated Press reported.—
Mary Gilbert,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The dangers of some using modern technology to render false, realistic pornographic depictions of real individuals is just one of many concerns people are having in the age of artificial intelligence.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The legislation would allow individuals whose likeness has been used by AI to generate pornographic photos and videos without their consent to sue those responsible for generating or disseminating the content for upward of $150,000.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wanton.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wanton. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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