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
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 Jan. 2025
The storyline revolves around a delicious plot twist that the film’s trailer unfortunately gives away in wanton fashion, so my presenting a spoiler alert seems a bit superfluous.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Jan. 2025
Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 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
In this raucous odyssey a wanton minx quests hard across a dreamy landscape of smut, filth and psychics, hustling to lift a curse that has been f*cking her sh*t up.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 Jan. 2025
The storyline revolves around a delicious plot twist that the film’s trailer unfortunately gives away in wanton fashion, so my presenting a spoiler alert seems a bit superfluous.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Jan. 2025
Noun
He was initially charged in September 2020 with three counts of wanton endangerment at the state level before being found not guilty in March 2022.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 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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To authenticate Trump's note and the obscene drawing that accompanied it, Journal reporters claim to have seen the album and talked to people knowledgeable about it.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Aug. 2025
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Guests will enjoy the experience free from disruptive behavior, foul language, obscene gestures, fighting, unruly conduct or inconsiderate actions.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
9 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Some of the most passionate, high-performing people work more than 60 hours a week.—
Nirit Cohen,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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Prince William is a passionate soccer fan and patron of the Football Association, soccer's governing body in England.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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That is a particularly egregious example of how the Trump Administration has been gratuitously cruel to the Sudanese.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
5 Aug. 2025
-
Stacy, Tim’s wife, also died of pancreatic cancer five months later in February of 2024, a cruel hand for a family that for years had gone above and beyond in their efforts to raise money and awareness for cancer research.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
3 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The Moon changes signs every 2.5 days, Mercury every 3 to 4 weeks and Venus flirts in a sign for nearly a month.—
Lisa Stardust,
People.com,
29 July 2025
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Staff Pick: Sabrina Carpenter flirts with controversy (again) Sabrina Carpenter performs onstage during the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards on Feb. 2 in Los Angeles.—
Elizabeth Robinson,
NBC news,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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As deadly wildfires raged across Southern California in January, a Los Angeles city official lamented to the city council and others how they were forced to listen to hateful, vulgar language from some members of the public.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
13 Aug. 2025
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Her choice to respond by telling me to 'shut the f*** up' and to 'calm my p*****' was vulgar, dismissive and escalated the issue entirely.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Menu highlights include Bavarian pretzels, hot wings, pizza, burgers and lavish charcuterie boards.—
Roger Naylor,
AZCentral.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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The lunch special for the month of August is a hot honey pimento cheese sandwich on homemade white bread served with a garden side salad ($11.95).—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Launch control is a wild ride, equal parts fun and brutal, as all that boost sends the V-6 screaming.—
Jonny Lieberman,
Robb Report,
16 Aug. 2025
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At the world’s southern edge, where nature is brutal and time stands still, hunters, herders and families endure the cold and solitude as ghosts roam the pampa.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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For parents worried about the elementary-school set being corrupted by the lustful goings-on at Love Island, the good news is that nearly all of the show’s kids’ viewership (424 million out of 474 million minutes streamed) was among the 12-and-up crowd.—
Josef Adalian,
Vulture,
31 July 2025
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Who wouldn't want to experience love for the first time against the lustful backdrop of fictional Cousins Beach, an idyllic East Coast town, Walker said.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wanton.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wanton. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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