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
• unwanted
• raunchy
• obnoxious
• unpleasant
• coarse
• impure
• undesirable
• disgusting
• abusive
• smutty
• trashy
• offensive
• profane
• stag
• unprintable
• locker-room
• wicked
• infamous
• gutter
• broad
• salacious
• perverted
• X-rated
• porny
• depraved
• immodest
• soft
• unbecoming
• indelicate
• perverse
• off
• scatological
• racy
• indecorous
• kinky
• earthy
• loathsome
• unwelcome
• low
• revolting
• repugnant
• barnyard
• salty
• abhorrent
• repulsive
• objectionable
• gamy
• coarse-grained
• scurrilous
• blamable
• risqué
• louche
• distasteful
• censurable
• repellent
• off-colored
• reprehensible
• exceptionable
• gamey
• blameworthy
• atrocious
• off-color
• debasing
• hard-core
• repellant
• soft-core

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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
• lubricous
• promiscuous
• degraded
• dissolute
• easy
• debauched
• libertine
• depraved
• loose
• 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
• straightlaced

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

Examples of wanton in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Schrader delights in mythologizing his own wanton dereliction of self-care. —Stephen Rodrick, Variety, 9 May 2024

During the famine, the TFG has shown wanton disregard for the public welfare. —Bronwyn Bruton, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2011

Noun

Prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memorandum that Maynard exhibited wanton and deliberate actions while setting fires designed to harm individuals. —Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 30 May 2024

Erica Lawson, 21, has been charged with second-degree murder, failure to report child dependency neglect or abuse, first-degree criminal abuse and first-degree wanton endangerment in connection with the death of her 17-month-old daughter Elena, online court records reviewed by PEOPLE show. —Corin Cesaric, Peoplemag, 26 May 2024