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
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025
The practice of slavery continued long after the abolition of the slave trade by France in 1818, with enslavers supported by the state for acts of astonishing, wanton violence.
—Rob Crossan, JSTOR Daily, 13 Dec. 2024
William McCants, Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2015
Marks is also charged with wanton endangerment, reckless driving and menacing.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 3 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for wanton
Adjective
Spider-Man rescues and moves the pets while avoiding Butane's wanton destruction, before putting him down for the count with the help of a giant fish tank.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025
The practice of slavery continued long after the abolition of the slave trade by France in 1818, with enslavers supported by the state for acts of astonishing, wanton violence.
—Rob Crossan, JSTOR Daily, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
The jihadists do still manage to dupe some Muslims into signing up for their cause, but most Muslims are horrified by their wanton killing of Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
—William McCants, Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2015
Marks is also charged with wanton endangerment, reckless driving and menacing.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 3 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for wanton
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wanton
Adjective
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The investigation began when detectives with the Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit served a search warrant in Bakersfield based on a tip about a person who was in possession and used obscene material involving an underage girl, authorities announced in a news release on Tuesday.—
Nathan Solis,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2025
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With his plea, a federal indictment relating to transfer of obscene material to a minor would not be pursued.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
5 May 2025
Adjective
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Both Song and Johnson are passionate about the genre, citing the works of Nora Ephron and Jim Brooks, among others, as deep comforts.—
Jessica Wang,
EW.com,
2 May 2025
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Forest fans had been outstanding at Wembley, offering passionate backing on a showpiece occasion.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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This dynamic has created a cruel catch-22 which forces an impossible choice: register and risk immediate deportation, or refuse and become criminalized for noncompliance, destroying any path to legal status.—
Kica Matos,
Time,
2 May 2025
-
Milano’s extensive medical history sometimes feels too cruel to detail; his only full season came as a rookie in 2017.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
Noun
-
As gold flirts with all-time highs again, headlines are quick to shout what many family offices already know: when the world trembles, gold glitters.—
Francois Botha,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
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In the middle of all this, Alexa and Lino remain pretty steadfast in their commitment to each other (except when Lino occasionally gets the urge to cheat and flirts with Alex, who turns him down every time).—
Charlotte Walsh,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Climate change vandals spray-painted a Tesla car dealership in Manhattan on Tuesday to protest Elon Musk’s work with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), but as police arrived, the activists could be seen cleaning off some of the vulgar writing.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2025
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Two of the protesters are facing counts including obstructing a law enforcement officer and simple battery on a law enforcement officer, while a third has been charged with using vulgar language, according to Acworth police.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Below, check out today's last-chance gift ideas, snag tickets for this weekend's hottest sporting events and more, all hand-picked by the USA TODAY Shopping team.—
Kasey Caminiti,
USA Today,
11 May 2025
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Team captain Salvador Perez, playing first base Friday, nabbed a 110 mph line drive, laying out in a full dive in order to snare a hot Jarren Duran liner that could’ve gone for extra bases.—
Maddie Hartley,
Kansas City Star,
10 May 2025
Adjective
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When local Officer and single mother Dana Cypress is unexpectedly thrown into the center of a brutal murder mystery of her own, she’s left to make sense of the chaos amidst a town gripped by fear and confusion where everyone, alive or undead, is a suspect.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
12 May 2025
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Bruno Silva via first-round KO This finish was absolutely brutal.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
Adjective
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One of my obsessions is the hip-hop love song, and how the exaggerated, theatrical, and lustful nature of the genre makes for some of the realest and funniest depictions of catching feelings.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
2 May 2025
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Sensuous food and French food in particular, retained its association with lustful appetites throughout the 1960s.—
Rachel Hope Cleves / Made by History,
TIME,
14 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wanton.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wanton. Accessed 16 May. 2025.
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