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wanton

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The definition of wanton is a reckless, malicious, indecent or sexually unrestrained person.

(adjective)

An example of wanton is someone who knows they are very drunk and drives home anyway.
An example of wanton is someone who spreads horrible lies about another.
An example of wanton is an HIV positive person having unprotected sex with many different people.

See wanton in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

Obsolete undisciplined; unmanageable: a wanton child
1. sexually loose or unrestrained: a wanton woman
2. Old Poet. frisky; playful; frolicsome
3. Old Poet. capricious; unrestrained: wanton winds
senseless, unprovoked, unjustifiable, or deliberately malicious: wanton cruelty, a wanton insult
recklessly or arrogantly ignoring justice, decency, morality, etc.: wanton disregard of human rights
1. Now Rare luxuriant: said of vegetation, etc.
2. lavish, luxurious, or extravagant: said of speech, dress, etc.

Origin: ME wantowen, var. of wantogen, wanton, irregular < OE wan-, used as negative prefix < wan, lacking, deficient (see wane) + togen, pp. of teon, to draw, educate, bring up (see tow)

noun

a wanton person or thing; esp., a sexually loose or unrestrained woman

intransitive verb

to be wanton in behavior, action, manner, etc.

transitive verb

to waste carelessly or in luxurious pleasures

Related Forms:

wantonly adverb
wantonness noun

See wanton in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective

Immoral or unchaste; lewd.
a. Gratuitously cruel; merciless.
b. Marked by unprovoked, gratuitous maliciousness; capricious and unjust: wanton destruction.
Unrestrainedly excessive: wanton extravagance; wanton depletion of oil reserves.
Luxuriant; overabundant: wanton tresses.
Frolicsome; playful.
Undisciplined; spoiled.
Obsolete Rebellious; refractory.