wanton
Other forms: wantons; wantoned; wantoning
Wanton describes something excessive, uncontrolled and sometimes even cruel. The principal sees a food fight as a wanton act of vandalism done with wanton disregard for the rules, but the kids might just see it as fun.
Wanton comes from the Old English wan- "lacking" and togen "to train, discipline," in other words, "lacking in discipline." Wanton extravagance is excessive and uncontrolled, whereas a wanton act of terrorism is random and intentionally cruel. Sometimes in older novels, you will see wanton used as a disapproving term to describe someone viewed as promiscuous, a usage that is considered old-fashioned today.
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a lewd or lascivious persontypes:type of:sensualista person who enjoys sensuality
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occurring without motivation or provocationsynonyms: motiveless, unprovokedunmotivatedwithout motivation
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casual and unrestrained in sexual behavior
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not restrained or controlledsynonyms: incontinent, unbridled, unchecked, uncurbed, ungovernedunrestrainednot subject to restraint
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playfully mean
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indulge in a carefree or voluptuous way of lifetype of:livelead a certain kind of life; live in a certain style
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become extravagant; indulge (oneself) luxuriously
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waste time; spend one's time idly or inefficientlysynonyms: piddle, piddle away, trifle, wanton away
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engage in amorous play
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behave extremely cruelly and brutally
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spend wastefully
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Vocabulary lists containing wanton
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In this comedy, two Athenian couples and a troupe of actors become unwitting pawns in a squabble between a fairy king and queen.