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
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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
Chris Branch, The Athletic, 2 Jan. 2025
The supermassive black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy is associated with wanton destruction, but a recent discovery throws that assumption into question.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
Landon Mion, Fox News, 30 Nov. 2024
To establish recklessness in this context, prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that someone has created an obvious risk of death and then acted in wanton disregard of the risk.
—The Editors, National Review, 9 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wanton 
Adjective
But to have a wanton act of violence kill 15 innocent people — on New Year’s Day, no less — is new in the worst way.
—Chris Branch, The Athletic, 2 Jan. 2025
The supermassive black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy is associated with wanton destruction, but a recent discovery throws that assumption into question.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
Noun
He is charged with wanton endangerment, endangering the welfare of a minor and leaving the scene of an accident.
—Landon Mion, Fox News, 30 Nov. 2024
To establish recklessness in this context, prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that someone has created an obvious risk of death and then acted in wanton disregard of the risk.
—The Editors, National Review, 9 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wanton
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wanton
Adjective
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The high school student complainants said in the lawsuit that their families’ First Amendment rights have been violated by the law, which has a much broader definition of obscene material than the one defined by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
4 Feb. 2025
-
There might be behavioral symptoms that make someone cancel a flight at the last minute because of their panic or decide to take a train for an obscene number of hours to avoid flying.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN,
2 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The tight retails for $118, and comes in such colors as black, desert red, passionate pink, lavender lux, magenta smoke, washed denim, true navy, espresso, Army green and solar gray.—
Lisa Lockwood,
WWD,
11 Feb. 2025
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An active member of the Society of American Travel Writers, Alexandra Owens is passionate about writing stories that highlight the power and potential of responsible ecotourism.—
Alexandra Owens,
AFAR Media,
10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The current government’s purposeful misrepresentation and defamation of DEI in such a comprehensively cruel and malicious manner deserves nothing less than personal and communal outrage and resistance.—
Dr. Tony Lux,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Feb. 2025
-
Immigrant advocates call those moves cruel and unnecessary.—
Joel Rose,
NPR,
8 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Lithgow makes Jim a foul-mouthed rebel, a reactionary against movements for non-binary and bisexual visibility, a promiscuous flirt, a narcissistic father, and a loving grandfather.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
5 Feb. 2025
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Like that film, Severance flirts with being a science-fiction story without adopting all the trappings.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The footage shows Caldwell calling the nearby Packers fans vulgar and sexist names, while taunting the man accompanying her with explicit gestures.—
Jackson Thompson,
Fox News,
18 Jan. 2025
-
Michael Thomas Lewis, 55, let out multiple outbursts during his first appearance in court since he was arrested over the weekend and accused of making a series of vulgar, threatening online statements at Clark, the Indiana Fever superstar.—
Samira Puskar,
NBC News,
14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Heat also kills larvae and eggs, however, hot temperatures can damage cashmere.—
Ellie Pithers,
Vogue,
15 Feb. 2025
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To this day, Kanchanaburi remains a hot destination — in every sense — for Australian and British tourists who come to pay tribute to prisoners of war who died under the Japanese lash, building the Burma Railway.—
Stephanie Bunbury,
Deadline,
15 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The occasional injury is unavoidable in a tournament where the intensity is this high, but that doesn’t make the outcome any less brutal for Theodore and the Golden Knights. 4.—
Sean McIndoe,
The Athletic,
17 Feb. 2025
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While mourning the loss of their child, Marcus discovers that Ammara’s younger brother Chet, a promising Muay Thai boxer, owes money to a local crime boss — forcing him to participate in a series of brutal underground fights orchestrated by charismatic Nigerian gangster Tiga (Hounsou).—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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However, Orlok is secretly an agent of evil who haunts Hutter’s new wife Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp) into lustful submission.—
Rudie Obias,
The Hollywood Reporter,
22 Jan. 2025
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Furthermore, the film hinges on the passionate, lustful romance between Fiennes and Mol, a fire that supposedly burns for over 14 years, but the palpable lack of chemistry between the two leads renders the love story completely ineffective.—
Vikram Murthi,
Vulture,
21 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Wanton.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wanton. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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