wanton Synonyms
Another word for wanton
• adjective (Context 1)
Deliberate, unprovoked, or done with reckless disregard for justice, rights, or consequences (especially of a cruel or violent action).
"The judge condemned the vandals for their gratuitous destruction of public property."
• adjective (Context 2)
Sexually immodest, unrestrained, or promiscuous.
"In the Victorian novel, the protagonist was ostracized by polite society for her supposedly promiscuous behavior."
• noun (Context 3)
A sexually immodest, promiscuous, or self-indulgent person (dated or literary).
"The playwright contrasted the ascetic monk with the carefree libertine in the second act."
• adjective (Context 4)
Growing profusely or luxuriantly; unrestrained, playful, or capricious (literary).
"The poet described the unrestrained breeze tossing the wildflowers across the meadow."
• verb (Context 5)
To behave in a playful, unrestrained, or lascivious manner (literary or archaic).
"In the pastoral poem, the nymphs were depicted wantoning in the sunlit glade."
• verb (Context 6)
To waste or squander extravagantly (often followed by 'away'; archaic).
"The young heir wantoned away his family fortune on lavish banquets."
Opposites of wanton
The opposite of wanton shifts depending on context. Common opposites include: