A wanton action deliberately causes harm, damage, or waste without having any reason to.
...this unnecessary and wanton destruction of our environment.
Wanton violence is now becoming a regular feature of urban life.
Synonyms: wilful, needless, senseless, unjustified More Synonyms of wanton
wantonlygraded adverb [ADVERB with verb]
His diaries were wantonly destroyed.
2. adjective
If someone describes a woman as wanton, they disapprove of her because she clearly enjoys sex or has sex with a lot of men.
[disapproval, old-fashioned]
...the idea that only wanton women have sexual passions.
More Synonyms of wanton
wanton in British English
(ˈwɒntən)
adjective
1.
dissolute, licentious, or immoral
2.
without motive, provocation, or justification
wanton destruction
3.
maliciously and unnecessarily cruel or destructive
4.
unrestrained
wanton spending
5. archaic or poetic
playful or capricious
6. archaic
(of vegetation, etc) luxuriant or superabundant
noun
7.
a licentious person, esp a woman
8.
a playful or capricious person
verb
9. (intransitive)
to behave in a wanton manner
10. (transitive)
to squander or waste
Derived forms
wantonly (ˈwantonly)
adverb
wantonness (ˈwantonness)
noun
Word origin
C13 wantowen (in the obsolete sense: unmanageable, unruly): from wan- (prefix equivalent to un-1; related to Old English wanian to wane) + -towen, from Old English togen brought up, from tēon to bring up
wanton in American English
(ˈwɑntən)
adjective
1. Obsolete
undisciplined; unmanageable
a wanton child
2.
a.
sexually loose or unrestrained
a wanton woman
b. OLD-FASHIONED, Poetic
frisky; playful; frolicsome
c. OLD-FASHIONED, Poetic
capricious; unrestrained
wanton winds
3.
senseless, unprovoked, unjustifiable, or deliberately malicious
wanton cruelty, a wanton insult
4.
recklessly or arrogantly ignoring justice, decency, morality, etc.
wanton disregard of human rights
5.
a. Rare
luxuriant
said of vegetation, etc.
b.
lavish, luxurious, or extravagant
said of speech, dress, etc.
noun
6.
a wanton person or thing; esp., a sexually loose or unrestrained woman
verb intransitive
7.
to be wanton in behavior, action, manner, etc.
verb transitive
8.
to waste carelessly or in luxurious pleasures
Derived forms
wantonly (ˈwantonly)
adverb
wantonness (ˈwantonness)
noun
Word origin
ME wantowen, var. of wantogen, wanton, irregular < OE wan-, used as negative prefix < wan, lacking, deficient (see wane) + togen, pp. of teon, to draw, educate, bring up (see tow1)
Examples of 'wanton' in a sentence
wanton
This was about the wanton destruction and murder of civilians on an industrial scale.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It was a case of wanton destruction.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It is a gentle uprising against wanton destruction.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It was an act of wanton social vandalism that has condemned generations to lives of unfulfilled potential.
The Sun (2015)
We are all fond of animals and abhor wanton or thoughtless cruelty to them.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
American opinion has been profoundly shocked by the wanton destruction of the ship and disregard for the lives and property of neutrals.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The banking heir's wanton behaviour did not stop there.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Despite the wanton destruction of the rainforest, the good news is huge swathes remain untouched.
The Sun (2007)
It's an act of wanton cruelty.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Giving it to them straight would be an act of wanton cruelty - to both parties.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It's a sad reflection that these acts of wilful and wanton vandalism appear to be increasing.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
A football match gives no excuse for wanton violence.
The Sun (2010)
This is a wanton waste.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
I venture that these seemingly wanton acts of destruction were down to pent-up anger from his childhood.
The Sun (2012)
They also put an end to the wanton violence that followed the Government's rout.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The riots in August caused more than just anarchy, crime and wanton destruction.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
After three days of rioting, the police have begun to look as though they have surrendered the streets to young men intent on wanton violence and burglary.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Above all, he turned the wanton cruelty of the natural world into clothes of exquisite beauty, season after season.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
wanton
British English: wanton ADJECTIVE
A wanton action deliberately causes harm, damage, or waste without having any reason to.
...this unnecessary and wanton destruction of our environment.
American English: wanton
Brazilian Portuguese: gratuito
Chinese: 胡作非为的
European Spanish: desdeñoso
French: gratuit
German: mutwillig
Italian: gratuito
Japanese: 理不尽な
Korean: 고의적인
European Portuguese: gratuito
Latin American Spanish: desdeñoso
1 (adjective)
Definition
(of a person) maliciously and unnecessarily cruel
the unnecessary and wanton destruction of our environment
Synonyms
wilful
Wilful neglect of the environment has caused this problem.
needless
Our families thought I was taking a needless risk.
senseless
unjustified
willed
evil
the country's most evil criminals
cruel
They should spend a long time in jail to reflect on their cruel acts.
the persecution of prisoners by cruel captors
vicious
a vicious attack on a woman's character
deliberate
arbitrary
malicious
She described the charges as malicious.
wicked
purposeful
gratuitous
The film has been criticized for its gratuitous violence.
malevolent
Her stare was malevolent, her mouth a thin line.
spiteful
He could be spiteful.
unprovoked
groundless
A ministry official described the report as groundless.
unjustifiable
uncalled-for
Leo's uncalled-for remarks about her cousin
motiveless
Opposites
called-for
,
justified
,
provoked
,
motivated
,
warranted
, legitimate,
excusable
2 (adjective)
Definition
(of a woman) sexually unrestrained or immodest
His eldest son was a wanton youth and a disappointment to him.
Synonyms
promiscuous
Everyone nowadays is aware of the risks of promiscuous sex.
She is perceived as vain, spoilt and promiscuous.
immoral
It is immoral to persist with a system that impoverishes so many people.
shameless
a shameless hustler and dealer in stolen goods
licentious
alarming stories of licentious behaviour
fast
She has made headlines for her wealth and fast lifestyle.
wild
abandoned
loose (old-fashioned)
loose morals
dissipated
He was still handsome though dissipated.
lewd
The embattled mayor apologized for making lewd remarks to reporters.
profligate
setting his usual profligate and rakish example to society
debauched
a debauched circus performer in nineteenth-century Poland
lustful
He can't stop himself from having lustful thoughts.
lecherous
In Greek myth, the nymph Daphne transformed into a laurel tree to escape Apollo's lecherous advances.
dissolute
She regretted her dissolute life.
libertine
He was free to explore a libertine lifestyle.
libidinous
He let his libidinous imagination run away with him.
of easy virtue
unchaste
rakish
Opposites
Victorian
,
rigid
,
stuffy
,
prim
,
puritanical
,
prudish
,
strait-laced
,
priggish
,
overmodest
3 (adjective)
Synonyms
reckless
He is charged with causing death by reckless driving.
wild
I was just a kid and full of wild ideas.
outrageous
The prices these places charge are absolutely outrageous.
lavish
Critics attack his lavish spending and flamboyant style.
rash
Don't do anything rash until the feelings subside.
extravagant
I was extravagant in my admiration of them.
careless
unrestrained
There was unrestrained joy on the faces of the people.
intemperate
the unwisely intemperate language of the party leader
heedless
She scattered the letters about in her heedless haste.
devil-may-care
his reckless, devil-may-care attitude to life
immoderate
He launched an immoderate tirade on his son.
Opposites
reserved
,
guarded
, moderate,
cautious
,
restrained
,
inhibited
,
prudent
,
temperate
,
circumspect
Additional synonyms
in the sense of cruel
Definition
deliberately causing pain without pity
They should spend a long time in jail to reflect on their cruel acts.the persecution of prisoners by cruel captors
Synonyms
brutal,
ruthless,
callous,
sadistic,
inhumane,
hard,
fell (archaic),
severe,
harsh,
savage,
grim,
vicious,
relentless,
murderous,
monstrous,
unnatural,
unkind,
heartless,
atrocious,
inhuman,
merciless,
cold-blooded,
malevolent,
hellish (informal),
depraved,
spiteful,
brutish,
bloodthirsty,
remorseless,
barbarous,
pitiless,
unfeeling,
sanguinary,
hard-hearted,
stony-hearted,
implacable
in the sense of debauched
Definition
immoral; sexually corrupt
a debauched circus performer in nineteenth-century Poland
Synonyms
corrupt,
abandoned,
perverted,
degraded,
degenerate,
immoral,
dissipated,
sleazy,
depraved,
wanton,
debased,
profligate,
dissolute,
licentious,
pervy (slang)
in the sense of devil-may-care
Definition
happy-go-lucky
his reckless, devil-may-care attitude to life
Synonyms
happy-go-lucky,
casual,
careless,
easy-going,
reckless,
unconcerned,
flippant,
nonchalant,
heedless,
insouciant
Nearby words of
wanton
wangle
want
wanting
wanton
war
war cry
warble
Synonyms of 'wanton'
wanton
Explore 'wanton' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of dissipated
Definition
showing signs of overindulgence in alcohol or other physical pleasures
He was still handsome though dissipated.
Synonyms
debauched,
abandoned,
self-indulgent,
profligate,
intemperate,
dissolute,
rakish
in the sense of dissolute
Definition
leading an immoral life
She regretted her dissolute life.
Synonyms
corrupt,
wild,
abandoned,
loose (old-fashioned),
vicious,
degenerate,
immoral,
lax,
dissipated,
lewd,
depraved,
wanton,
unrestrained,
profligate,
debauched,
rakish,
libertine,
licentious
in the sense of evil
Definition
(of an act, idea, etc.) causing great harm and misery
the country's most evil criminals
Synonyms
wicked,
bad,
wrong,
corrupt,
vicious,
vile,
malicious,
base,
immoral,
malignant,
sinful,
unholy,
malevolent,
heinous,
depraved,
villainous,
nefarious,
iniquitous,
reprobate,
maleficent
in the sense of extravagant
Definition
(of behaviour or gestures) extreme, esp. in order to make a particular impression
I was extravagant in my admiration of them.
Synonyms
excessive,
exaggerated,
outrageous,
wild,
fantastic,
absurd,
foolish,
over the top (slang),
unreasonable,
preposterous,
fanciful,
unrestrained,
inordinate,
outré,
immoderate,
O.T.T. (slang)
in the sense of fast
Definition
given to a life of expensive and exciting activities
She has made headlines for her wealth and fast lifestyle.
Synonyms
dissipated,
wild,
exciting,
loose (old-fashioned),
extravagant,
reckless,
immoral,
promiscuous,
giddy,
self-indulgent,
wanton,
profligate,
impure,
intemperate,
dissolute,
rakish,
licentious,
gadabout (informal)
in the sense of gratuitous
Definition
unjustified or unreasonable
The film has been criticized for its gratuitous violence.
Synonyms
unjustified,
unnecessary,
needless,
unfounded,
unwarranted,
superfluous,
wanton,
unprovoked,
groundless,
baseless,
uncalled-for,
unmerited,
causeless
in the sense of groundless
Definition
without reason or justification
A ministry official described the report as groundless.
Synonyms
baseless,
false,
unfounded,
unjustified,
unproven,
empty,
unauthorized,
unsubstantiated,
unsupported,
uncorroborated,
unwarranted,
unprovoked,
uncalled-for
in the sense of heedless
Definition
taking no notice
She scattered the letters about in her heedless haste.
Synonyms
careless,
reckless,
negligent,
rash,
precipitate,
oblivious,
foolhardy,
thoughtless,
unthinking,
imprudent,
neglectful,
inattentive,
incautious,
unmindful,
unobservant
in the sense of immoderate
Definition
excessive or unreasonable
He launched an immoderate tirade on his son.
Synonyms
excessive,
extreme,
over the top (slang),
enormous,
steep (informal),
exaggerated,
extravagant,
unreasonable,
undue,
uncontrolled,
unjustified,
unwarranted,
exorbitant,
unrestrained,
profligate,
inordinate,
over the odds (informal),
egregious,
intemperate,
unconscionable,
uncalled-for,
O.T.T. (slang)
in the sense of immoral
Definition
sexually depraved or promiscuous
It is immoral to persist with a system that impoverishes so many people.
Synonyms
wicked,
bad,
wrong,
abandoned,
evil,
corrupt,
vicious,
obscene,
indecent,
vile,
degenerate,
dishonest,
sinful,
unethical,
lewd,
depraved,
impure,
debauched,
unprincipled,
nefarious,
dissolute,
iniquitous,
reprobate
Additional synonyms
in the sense of intemperate
Definition
extreme or severe
the unwisely intemperate language of the party leader
Synonyms
excessive,
extreme,
over the top (slang),
wild,
violent,
severe,
passionate,
extravagant,
uncontrollable,
self-indulgent,
unbridled,
prodigal,
unrestrained,
tempestuous,
profligate,
inordinate,
incontinent,
ungovernable,
immoderate,
O.T.T. (slang)
in the sense of lavish
Definition
extravagant
Critics attack his lavish spending and flamboyant style.
Synonyms
extravagant,
wild,
excessive,
exaggerated,
unreasonable,
wasteful,
prodigal,
unrestrained,
intemperate,
immoderate,
improvident,
thriftless
in the sense of lecherous
Definition
(of a man) having or showing strong and uncontrolled sexual desire
In Greek myth, the nymph Daphne transformed into a laurel tree to escape Apollo's lecherous advances.
Synonyms
lustful,
randy (informal, British),
raunchy (informal),
lewd,
wanton,
carnal,
salacious,
prurient,
lascivious,
libidinous,
licentious,
lubricious (literary),
concupiscent,
goatish (archaic, literary),
unchaste,
ruttish
in the sense of lewd
Definition
indecently vulgar
The embattled mayor apologized for making lewd remarks to reporters.
Synonyms
indecent,
obscene,
vulgar,
dirty,
blue,
loose (old-fashioned),
vile,
pornographic,
wicked,
wanton,
X-rated (informal),
profligate,
bawdy,
salacious,
impure,
lascivious,
smutty,
lustful,
libidinous,
licentious,
unchaste
in the sense of libertine
Definition
promiscuous and unscrupulous
He was free to explore a libertine lifestyle.
Synonyms
promiscuous,
degenerate,
immoral,
decadent,
abandoned,
corrupt,
voluptuous,
depraved,
wanton,
profligate,
debauched,
dissolute,
rakish,
reprobate,
licentious
in the sense of libidinous
Definition
characterized by excessive sexual desire
He let his libidinous imagination run away with him.
Synonyms
lustful,
sensual,
wanton,
carnal,
loose (old-fashioned),
randy (informal, British),
wicked,
salacious,
prurient,
impure,
debauched,
lascivious,
incontinent,
lecherous,
concupiscent,
unchaste,
ruttish
in the sense of licentious
Definition
sexually unrestrained or promiscuous
alarming stories of licentious behaviour
Synonyms
promiscuous,
immoral,
lewd,
debauched,
abandoned,
sensual,
uncontrollable,
uncontrolled,
wanton,
profligate,
impure,
lascivious,
lustful,
dissolute,
libertine,
libidinous,
lubricious (literary),
uncurbed
in the sense of loose
Definition
sexually promiscuous
loose morals
Synonyms
promiscuous,
fast,
abandoned,
immoral,
dissipated,
lewd,
wanton,
profligate,
disreputable,
debauched,
dissolute,
libertine,
licentious,
unchaste
in the sense of lustful
He can't stop himself from having lustful thoughts.
Synonyms
lascivious,
sexy (informal),
passionate,
erotic,
craving,
sensual,
randy (informal, British),
raunchy (informal),
horny (slang),
hankering,
lewd,
wanton,
carnal,
prurient,
lecherous,
hot-blooded,
libidinous,
licentious,
concupiscent,
unchaste
in the sense of malevolent
Definition
wishing evil to others
Her stare was malevolent, her mouth a thin line.
Synonyms
spiteful,
hostile,
vicious,
malicious,
malign,
malignant,
vindictive,
pernicious (formal),
vengeful,
hateful,
baleful,
rancorous,
evil-minded,
maleficent,
ill-natured
Additional synonyms
in the sense of malicious
She described the charges as malicious.
Synonyms
spiteful,
malevolent,
malignant,
vicious,
bitter,
resentful,
pernicious (formal),
vengeful,
bitchy (informal),
hateful,
baleful,
injurious,
rancorous,
catty (informal),
shrewish,
ill-disposed,
evil-minded,
ill-natured
in the sense of needless
Definition
not required
Our families thought I was taking a needless risk.
Synonyms
unnecessary,
excessive,
pointless,
gratuitous,
useless,
unwanted,
redundant,
superfluous,
groundless,
expendable,
uncalled-for,
dispensable,
nonessential,
undesired,
causeless
in the sense of outrageous
Definition
shocking and socially or morally unacceptable
The prices these places charge are absolutely outrageous.
Synonyms
unreasonable,
unfair,
excessive,
steep (informal),
shocking,
over the top (slang),
extravagant,
too great,
scandalous,
preposterous,
unwarranted,
exorbitant,
extortionate,
immoderate,
O.T.T. (slang)
in the sense of profligate
Definition
shamelessly immoral
setting his usual profligate and rakish example to society
Synonyms
depraved,
degenerate,
immoral,
wild,
abandoned,
loose (old-fashioned),
corrupt,
dissipated,
wicked,
promiscuous,
shameless,
wanton,
debauched,
unprincipled,
dissolute,
iniquitous,
libertine,
vitiated,
licentious
in the sense of rash
Definition
acting or done without proper thought or consideration
Don't do anything rash until the feelings subside.
Synonyms
reckless,
hasty,
impulsive,
imprudent,
premature,
adventurous,
careless,
precipitate,
brash,
audacious,
headlong,
madcap,
ill-advised,
foolhardy,
unwary,
thoughtless,
unguarded,
headstrong,
impetuous,
indiscreet,
unthinking,
helter-skelter,
ill-considered,
hot-headed,
heedless,
injudicious,
incautious,
venturesome,
harebrained,
harum-scarum
in the sense of shameless
Definition
without decency or modesty
a shameless hustler and dealer in stolen goods
Synonyms
brazen,
audacious,
flagrant,
abandoned,
corrupt,
hardened,
indecent,
brash,
improper,
depraved,
wanton,
unabashed,
profligate,
unashamed,
incorrigible,
insolent,
unprincipled,
impudent,
dissolute,
reprobate,
immodest,
barefaced,
unblushing
in the sense of spiteful
He could be spiteful.
Synonyms
malicious,
nasty,
vindictive,
cruel,
malignant,
barbed,
malevolent,
venomous,
bitchy (informal),
snide,
rancorous,
catty (informal),
splenetic,
shrewish,
ill-disposed,
ill-natured
in the sense of uncalled-for
Definition
unnecessary or unwarranted
Leo's uncalled-for remarks about her cousin
Synonyms
unnecessary,
unjustified,
unwarranted,
inappropriate,
needless,
unwelcome,
unjust,
gratuitous,
unprovoked,
undeserved
in the sense of unrestrained
Definition
not controlled or limited
There was unrestrained joy on the faces of the people.