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   Wan·ton

   /ˈwäntən/

   

   adjective

   • 1. (of a cruel or violent action) deliberate and unprovoked: "sheer wanton vandalism" Similar deliberatewillfulmaliciousmalevolentspitefulviciouswickedevilcruelunprovokedunmotivatedmotivelessarbitrarygroundlessunjustifiableunjustifiedneedlessunnecessaryuncalled forgratuitoussenselesspointlesspurposelessaimlessuselessmeaninglessemptyvacuousOpposite justifiable
   • 2. sexually unrestrained or having many casual sexual relationships (typically used of a woman): dated "her cheeks burned as she recalled how forward she had been, how wanton" Similar licentiouspromiscuousimmoralimmodestindecentshamelessunblushingunchasteunvirtuousimpureabandonedlustfullecherouslascivioussalaciouslubriciouslibidinouslibertineprofligatedissolutedissipateddebaucheddegeneratereprobatecorruptsinfuldated:loosefastof easy virtueOpposite chastemoral
   • 3. growing profusely; luxuriant: archaic "where wanton ivy twines"
   • ▪ lively; playful: "a wanton fawn" Similar capriciousplayfulfriskyjollyfun-lovinglivelyfull of lifehigh-spiritedspiritedcarelessheedlessimpulsiveimpetuousrashrecklessabandonedaudaciouscavalierdevil-may-carehappy-go-luckyarchaic:frolicsomesportiveOpposite serious

   noun

   • 1. a sexually unrestrained woman: archaic "she'd behaved like a wanton"

   verb

   • 1. play; frolic: "they sat gazing at the white-flecked pure blue sea and the various gulls that wantoned in the wake"
   • 2. behave in a sexually unrestrained way: "women who have wantoned with suitors"

   Word Origin Middle Englishwantowen ‘rebellious, lacking discipline’, from wan- ‘badly’ + Old Englishtogen ‘trained’ (related to team and tow1).

   Derivatives

   • 1. wantonness noun

   Scrabble Points: 9

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2. People also ask

   What does wanton mean?

   • Note: Wanton, reckless, and willful are often used to refer to an aggravated level of negligence that borders on intent and that is often ground for an award of punitive damages. Nglish: Translation of wanton for Spanish Speakers Britannica English: Translation of wanton for Arabic Speakers Love words? Need even more definitions?

   Wanton Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wanton

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   What does it mean if a woman is a wanton?

   • Wanton violence is now becoming a regular feature of urban life. His diaries were wantonly destroyed. If someone describes a woman as wanton, they disapprove of her because she clearly enjoys sex or has sex with a lot of men. ...the idea that only wanton women have sexual passions. Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary.

   WANTON definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/wanton

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   What does play the wanton mean?

   • P.1. to play the wanton (formerly also †the wantons, †the wanton's part): to dally, trifle; to behave lewdly or lasciviously; to flirt. Yf the wench be nyce and play the wanton and make the mater strange then wyll he bete her to bed to.

   wanton, adj. & n. meanings, etymology and more - Oxford English Dicti…

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   What is a wanton child?

   • Wanton Children..cry, and murmur, if they are not fed. They..are not even permitted to punish their wanton and unruly boys, who often throw stones at their mothers or beat them with impunity. A rebellious and wanton offspring. Institutions established for the purpose of correcting, training and educating such weak and wanton children.

   wanton, adj. & n. meanings, etymology and more - Oxford English Dicti…

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3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › wantonWanton Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › wanton

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   Wanton is an adjective that can mean merciless, inhumane, lewd, extravagant, or playful. It can also be a noun for a flirt, a pet, or a spoiled child. See synonyms, examples, and word history of wanton.

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishWANTON | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   Wanton means extreme and showing no care at all, or old use or humorous (of a woman) behaving or appearing in a very sexual way. Learn more about the word, its pronunciation, synonyms, and translations.

5. www.dictionary.com › browse › wantonWANTON Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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   noun. a wanton or lascivious person, especially a woman. verb (used without object) to behave in a wanton manner; become wanton. verb (used with object) to squander, especially in pleasure (often followed by away ): to wanton away one's inheritance. Synonyms: waste. wanton. / ˈwɒntən / adjective. dissolute, licentious, or immoral.

6. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › wantonWanton - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › wanton

   Definitions of wanton. noun. a lewd or lascivious person. see more. adjective. occurring without motivation or provocation. synonyms: motiveless, unprovoked. unmotivated. without motivation. adjective. casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior. “ wanton behavior” synonyms: easy, light, loose, promiscuous, sluttish. unchaste. not chaste. adjective.

7. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishWANTON definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   6 days ago · Wanton is an adjective that means deliberately causing harm, damage, or waste without reason, or sexually loose or unrestrained. It can also be a noun or a verb with different meanings. See synonyms, examples, and word origin of wanton.

8. www.oed.com › dictionary › wanton_adjwanton, adj. & n. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford ...

   www.oed.com › dictionary › wanton_adj

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   Oct 4, 2023 · Wanton is an adjective meaning undisciplined, unruly, or rebellious, and a noun meaning a wanton person or thing. It comes from Old English and has various synonyms and related words.

9. en.wiktionary.org › wiki › wantonwanton - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

   en.wiktionary.org › wiki › wanton

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   Feb 14, 2024 · Wanton is an adjective, noun, or verb that means undisciplined, playful, lewd, capricious, or extravagant. Learn the etymology, synonyms, derived terms, and translations of wanton from Wiktionary, the free dictionary.