wantonness — deliberate and unprovoked cruelty or violence; sexually immoral behavior
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: deliberate and unprovoked cruelty or violence; sexually immoral behavior
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈwɑːntənəs/
Example Sentences
- The movie was criticized for its wantonness and unnecessary violence.
- My cat's wantonness in destroying my furniture knows no bounds.
- The teacher was shocked by the wantonness of the students' prank on April Fool's Day.
wantonness
NOUN[/ˈwɑːntənəs/]
deliberate and unprovoked cruelty or violence; sexually immoral behavior
A vandal displays wantonness by destroying park property without provocation
In darkness grows the madness of wantonness
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Wantonness derives from Middle English 'wantoun', meaning 'untrained' or 'undisciplined'. The term originally combined 'wan-' (lacking) and 'towen' (trained), literally describing a state of insufficient training or control.
Breakdown
wan- (lacking) + towen (trained) + -ness (state or condition). The suffix -ness converts the adjective 'wanton' into an abstract noun denoting the quality or state of being undisciplined and unrestrained.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The movie was criticized for its wantonness and unnecessary violence.”
“My cat's wantonness in destroying my furniture knows no bounds.”
“The teacher was shocked by the wantonness of the students' prank on April Fool's Day.”
“Historical records document the wantonness of certain rulers throughout the ages.”
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