Wantonness - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Wantonness refers to reckless or excessive behavior, often without regard for consequences or morality. It can describe unrestrained indulgence in pleasure, cruelty, or extravagance.
Definition:
Reckless or excessive indulgence in pleasure, often without regard for consequences.
Synonyms:
recklessness, extravagance, licentiousness, debauchery
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
restraint, moderation
Common Collocations:
wantonness of youth, sheer wantonness, acts of wantonness
Derivatives:
wanton (adj), wantonly (adv)
Usage Tips:
Use "wantonness" to describe extreme or careless indulgence, often with a negative connotation.
Common Phrases:
wild wantonness, unchecked wantonness, the wantonness of desire
Etymology:
From Middle English "wantowen," meaning undisciplined or unruly; later evolved to imply excessive indulgence.
Examples:
- 1. Her wantonness led to reckless spending and debt.
- 2. The novel depicts the wantonness of aristocratic life in vivid detail.
- 3. His wantonness shocked the conservative community.
- 4. The king’s wantonness weakened his rule over time.