wanton

[ won-tn ]

/ ˈwɒn tn /

adjective

done, shown, used, etc., maliciously or unjustifiably: a wanton attack; wanton cruelty.

deliberate and without motive or provocation; uncalled-for; headstrong; willful: Why jeopardize your career in such a wanton way?

without regard for what is right, just, humane, etc.; careless; reckless: a wanton attacker of religious convictions.

sexually lawless or unrestrained; loose; lascivious; lewd: wanton behavior.

extravagantly or excessively luxurious, as a person, manner of living, or style.

luxuriant, as vegetation.

Archaic.

sportive or frolicsome, as children or young animals.
having free play: wanton breezes; a wanton brook.

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.

Origin of wanton

1250–1300; Middle English wantowen literally, undisciplined, ill-reared, Old English wan- not + togen past participle of tēon to discipline, rear, cognate with German ziehen, Latin dūcere to lead; akin to tow¹

SYNONYMS FOR wanton

1 malicious.

2 calculated.

3 heedless, inconsiderate.

4 licentious, dissolute, immoral, libidinous, concupiscent, lustful.

5 lavish.

10 waste.

ANTONYMS FOR wanton

3 careful, considerate.

4, 5 restrained.

OTHER WORDS FROM wanton

wan·ton·ly, adverb wan·ton·ness, noun un·wan·ton, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH wanton

wanton won ton

Words nearby wanton

wantage, wantagh, wantaway, wanted, wanting, wanton, wanxian, wany, wap, wapatoo, wapentake

Example sentences from the Web for unwanton

O Philocalia, in heavy sadness and unwanton phrase, there lies all the brain-work.

The Works of John Marston |John Marston

British Dictionary definitions for unwanton

wanton

/ (ˈwɒntən) /

adjective

dissolute, licentious, or immoral

without motive, provocation, or justification wanton destruction

maliciously and unnecessarily cruel or destructive

unrestrained wanton spending

archaic, or poetic playful or capricious

archaic (of vegetation, etc) luxuriant or superabundant

noun

a licentious person, esp a woman

a playful or capricious person

verb

(intr) to behave in a wanton manner

(tr) to squander or waste

Derived forms of wanton

wantonly, adverb wantonness, noun

Word Origin for wanton

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

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

wanton

adjective

noun

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

Origin of wanton

SYNONYMS FOR wanton

ANTONYMS FOR wanton

OTHER WORDS FROM wanton

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH wanton

Words nearby wanton

Example sentences from the Web for unwanton

British Dictionary definitions for unwanton

adjective

noun

verb

Derived forms of wanton

Word Origin for wanton

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

wanton

adjective

noun

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

Origin of wanton

SYNONYMS FOR wanton

ANTONYMS FOR wanton

OTHER WORDS FROM wanton

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH wanton

Words nearby wanton

Example sentences from the Web for unwanton

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for unwanton

adjective

noun

verb

Derived forms of wanton

Word Origin for wanton

British Dictionary definitions for unwanton