Wanton Definition

wŏntən
wantons
adjective
Undisciplined; unmanageable.
A wanton child.
Webster's New World
Lascivious or promiscuous. Used especially of women.
American Heritage
Exciting or expressing sexual desire.
A wanton pose.
American Heritage
Sexually loose or unrestrained.
A wanton woman.
Webster's New World
Capricious; unrestrained.
Wanton winds.
Webster's New World
verb
wantons
To be wanton in behavior, action, manner, etc.
Webster's New World
To move idly or playfully.
American Heritage
(intransitive) To rove and ramble without restraint, rule, or limit; to revel; to play loosely; to frolic.
Wiktionary

To waste or squander, especially in pleasure (often with away).

The young man wantoned away his inheritance.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
noun
A wanton person or thing; esp., a sexually loose or unrestrained woman.
Webster's New World

A pampered or coddled person.

Wiktionary

An overly playful person; a trifler.

Wiktionary

A self-indulgent person, fond of excess.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Wanton

Noun

Singular:
wanton
Plural:
wantons

Origin of Wanton

  • Middle English wantowen wan- not, lacking (from Old English euə- in Indo-European roots) towen past participle of teen to bring up (from Old English tēon to lead, draw deuk- in Indo-European roots)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From wan- + (a descendant of) Old English togen, past participle of tÄ“on (“to train, discipline").

    From Wiktionary

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