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
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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
Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 30 July 2025
Human rights organizations have also documented the wanton execution of Alawite civilians by fighters aligned with the government.
—Jerome Drevon, Foreign Affairs, 11 Apr. 2025
Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 July 2025
Sentencing comes after yearslong legal battle Hankison was fired in June 2020 and charged at the state level in September 2020 with three counts of wanton endangerment over the bullets that entered the neighboring unit.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for wanton
Adjective
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday afternoon on behalf of Jennings’ wife Mary Katherine Fountain, accuses East of willful and wanton conduct, battery and consciously causing pain and suffering to Jennings.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 30 July 2025
Human rights organizations have also documented the wanton execution of Alawite civilians by fighters aligned with the government.
—Jerome Drevon, Foreign Affairs, 11 Apr. 2025
Noun
Hankison was cleared of his state charges of wanton endangerment in 2022 and faced a deadlocked jury over federal charges in 2023.
—Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 July 2025
Sentencing comes after yearslong legal battle Hankison was fired in June 2020 and charged at the state level in September 2020 with three counts of wanton endangerment over the bullets that entered the neighboring unit.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for wanton
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wanton
Adjective
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Clothing must not feature offensive language, obscene gestures/graphics, or nudity or clothing that does not sufficiently cover undergarments.—
Sarah Moore,
Freep.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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The store supplied her with bondage pants, kilts, and T-shirts printed with obscene illustrations.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Kaif Shaikh Kaif Shaikh is a journalist and writer passionate about turning complex information into clear, impactful stories.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Sep. 2025
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Investing in employee growth creates passionate advocates who deliver exceptional customer experiences, which then builds community goodwill.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The cruel irony is that the very systems designed to promote inclusion can inadvertently reinforce exclusion.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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And of course, to serve as cruel juxtaposition, deGrom retired the Mets in order in the bottom of the inning on just six pitches.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Fire up the flirt pole Cats have teaser wands, dogs have flirt poles.—
Kelsey Monstrola,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
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White breaks down where to meet men based on four different flirt styles.—
Essence,
Essence,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The book is filled with vulgar pictures, with many faces blacked out, and messages both handwritten and typed from well-wishers for Epstein’s 50th birthday.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
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The biopic is the vulgar but necessary tribute inherently populist cinema pays to more traditional, higher-brow art.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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With the debates coming later this month, the campaign water is set to get hotter.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Sep. 2025
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Significantly diseased leaves should be raked and removed from the area and disposed of properly, such as by burying, burning where allowed, or hot composting, according to UW-Madison.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Take the quiz here … KICKED TO THE CURB – Super Bowl hero cut from 49ers roster after brutal Week 1 performance.—
,
FOXNews.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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While released, Horton committed another horrific crime – a brutal home invasion and rape.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In late May, a parishioner at Our Lady of the Visitation in Green Township complained to the archdiocese about pornographic websites showing up on a church computer.—
Dan Horn,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
16 Sep. 2025
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Concerns have already been raised over the dangers of nudification apps that can be used to create pornographic images of people without their consent.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wanton.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wanton. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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