libertinism

noun

lib·​er·​tin·​ism ˈli-bər-ˌtē-ˌni-zəm How to pronounce libertinism (audio)
-tə-
: the quality or state of being libertine : the behavior of a libertine

Examples of libertinism in a Sentence

a group of urban bohemians who were better known for their libertinism than for their intellectualism even by the standards of ancient Rome, Caligula's reign was marked by a libertinism that went beyond the pale
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Still, a story that’s equal parts an exploration of libertinism and also a scorching take on the elite remained a tempting narrative to explore. Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Nov. 2024 Where his first two books take Bulgaria as backdrop and a certain kind of soft-skinned, deeply feeling libertinism as narrative vehicle, Small Rain functions as a midlife sequel, one that is quietly, unabashedly romantic. Sarah Thankam Mathews, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2024 To some, the campus became the place where the children of American postwar affluence failed to live up to all that had been invested in them, opting instead for campus protest, radical politics, and libertinism. Adrian Daub / Made By History, TIME, 3 Sep. 2024 In other words, liberals refuse to acknowledge that political liberalism gives rise to private libertinism. Becca Rothfeld, Washington Post, 3 July 2024 Each letter affords Stauffer a chance to ruminate on whatever facet of the poet’s history and character happened to be glittering most brightly at the time, from his devotion to the cause of Greek independence in the fight against Ottoman rule to the libertinism for which he is famed. The New Yorker, 12 June 2024 The era of libertinism — a philosophy devoted to the pursuit of pleasure — died out in the 19th century. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Jan. 2024 Evil excited certain Surrealists who, for instance, celebrated the predatory libertinism of the Marquis de Sade. Peter Schjeldahl, The New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2021 Sade, after all, viewed himself not just as a libertine, but as a philosopher of libertinism (one of his works was titled Philosophy in the Boudoir). Mitchell Abidor, The New York Review of Books, 12 Feb. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of libertinism was in 1611

Dictionary Entries Near libertinism

Cite this Entry

“Libertinism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/libertinism. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!