adj

wanton

WON-tuhn

adj

Deliberately careless or cruel, showing no regard for consequences or morality.

"The report criticized the company's wanton disregard for worker safety."

(dated) Sexually unrestrained or promiscuous.

"The novel scandalized readers with its portrayal of a wanton heroine."

How to Use Wanton

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishRecklessly disregarding right and wrong, or (older sense) sexually unrestrained.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "wonton," the Chinese dumpling — they sound alike but are unrelated.

Easily confused with

wonton →

Common pairings

wanton destruction wanton disregard wanton cruelty

Word Forms

more wanton comparative, wantoner comparative, wantoned past tense, wantons plural, wanton plural, wantons plural, wantons singular, most wanton superlative, wantonest superlative

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The report criticized the company's _____ disregard for worker safety.

Etymology

From Middle English wantoun, built from wan- ("un-") plus a word meaning "trained" or "disciplined" — literally "undisciplined."

Synonyms

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anarchic anarchical bratty chaotic difficult dionysiac dionysian disciplineless fractious governless gung ho indisciplined

Antonyms

apollonian constrained disciplined inhibited repressible restrained ruly under control

Related Words

forward difficult easy enthusiastic hinder orderly problematic irritable

Rhymes for wanton

Anton canton Danton Stanton Clanton Scranton

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anarchic anarchical bratty chaotic difficult dionysiac dionysian disciplineless fractious governless gung ho indisciplined