1
as in obscene
depicting or referring to sexual matters in a way that is unacceptable in polite society
that novel was once regarded as a wanton tale of forbidden love
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in passionate
having a strong sexual desire
in earlier times, novelists usually portrayed wanton women as coming to a bad end
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cruel
having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others
a wanton attack on unarmed civilians
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of wanton
Daniel Block, The Atlantic, 30 Nov. 2024
Further downtown, the Warriors meet the Orphans, Hill’s quasi-Latinx solution to the wanton cruelty of the depiction of the Puerto Rican gang in the book.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2024
Leo Bertucci, The Courier-Journal, 4 Feb. 2024
Brenda Chilton, 71, William Mahoney, 72, Codey Johnson, 29, and Tammy Simmons, 52, all of Carrollton, were arrested and charged with first-degree criminal abuse and first-degree wanton endangerment.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wanton 
Adjective
Yet a line divides necessary arguments from wanton confrontation, and New Delhi routinely crosses it.
—Daniel Block, The Atlantic, 30 Nov. 2024
Further downtown, the Warriors meet the Orphans, Hill’s quasi-Latinx solution to the wanton cruelty of the depiction of the Puerto Rican gang in the book.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2024
Noun
Smith was taken into custody and charged with wanton endangerment, disorderly conduct, menacing and resisting arrest.
—Leo Bertucci, The Courier-Journal, 4 Feb. 2024
Brenda Chilton, 71, William Mahoney, 72, Codey Johnson, 29, and Tammy Simmons, 52, all of Carrollton, were arrested and charged with first-degree criminal abuse and first-degree wanton endangerment.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wanton
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wanton
Adjective
-
So Far Layton’s contributions also include a playfully obscene drawing that Cohen faxed to her, the photograph of Ihlen used on the back cover of Cohen’s Songs from a Room, and the key to an entrance of Cohen’s apartment on the Greek island of Hydra.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
30 Jan. 2025
-
Following an extensive investigation, police said detectives obtained an arrest warrant charging 29-year-old Curtis Field of Vernon with disseminating obscene material to a minor.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
And clients who are passionate about the outdoors will find a good match here too, as the team also offers landscape and exterior design services.—
Dan Howarth,
Architectural Digest,
30 Jan. 2025
-
The superstar joined Jennifer Hudson on the latter’s daytime talk show, where Hudson asked Rowland what inspired her passionate uplifting of her fellow women.—
Rania Aniftos,
Billboard,
30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
But his cruel divisiveness is deflecting attention from the main event.—
Robert B. Reich,
Hartford Courant,
29 Jan. 2025
-
Banek has requested the Illinois Department of Public Health probe the cruel death, also asking that all evidence associated with the case be preserved.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Pepe the King Prawn is a Spanish Muppet with four arms, orange skin and straggly hair; the character is known for being an outrageous flirt, and being offended when people refer to him as a shrimp.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes,
22 Dec. 2024
-
In one scene, Walker watches as Choppa flirts with a woman during her own photoshoot.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Her involuntary outbursts cause Dupree to shout a number of things, such as comments about people around her and more vulgar language.—
Zoey Lyttle,
People.com,
17 Jan. 2025
-
Nearly 100% of the first film’s grosses were made in the U.S. — so few expected the spooky sequel about a vulgar poltergeist to connect in the territories across the pond and beyond this time around either.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Consuming Cold Food and Beverages The simplest ice hack for weight loss is drinking ice-cold beverages (especially water), placing ice in your drinks, or consuming food that’s cold (rather than hot or room temperature).—
Heidi Moawad,
Verywell Health,
22 Jan. 2025
-
The 75-year-old, along with dozens of others experiencing homelessness, queued for a hot meal provided by the nonprofit One World One Heart.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams endured a brutal season, getting sacked a league-high 68 times in 2024, much of which was attributed to Morgan's coaching.—
John Yoo and John Shu,
Newsweek,
24 Jan. 2025
-
Softening up the schedule in November and December is self-preservation for 18 brutal league games in January and February.—
Sabreena Merchant,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
However, Orlok is secretly an agent of evil who haunts Hutter’s new wife Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp) into lustful submission.—
Rudie Obias,
The Hollywood Reporter,
22 Jan. 2025
-
Furthermore, the film hinges on the passionate, lustful romance between Fiennes and Mol, a fire that supposedly burns for over 14 years, but the palpable lack of chemistry between the two leads renders the love story completely ineffective.—
Vikram Murthi,
Vulture,
21 Jan. 2025
Articles Related to wanton
Thesaurus Entries Near wanton
Cite this Entry
“Wanton.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wanton. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share