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wanton — deliberate and unprovoked; sexually immodest or promiscuous

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: deliberate and unprovoked; sexually immodest or promiscuous

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈwɑːntən/

Example Sentences

  • The teenager's wanton spending of his allowance left him broke by Tuesday.
  • The company showed wanton disregard for environmental regulations.
  • His wanton destruction of the kitchen while 'cooking' resulted in ordering pizza again.

wanton

ADJECTIVE

[/ˈwɑːntən/]

deliberate and unprovoked; sexually immodest or promiscuous

Kicking down the boy's carefully built sandcastle was an act of completely wanton destruction.
💡 Concept

Kicking down the boy's carefully built sandcastle was an act of completely wanton destruction.

WANT(desire) + ON(upon) — standing ON the parked car, the punks did exactly what they WANTed, causing pure wanton damage with their bats.
🧠 Mnemonic

WANT(desire) + ON(upon) — standing ON the parked car, the punks did exactly what they WANTed, causing pure wanton damage with their bats.

Angry that his wonton soup was cold, the rude customer flipped the table in a completely wanton rage.
🎵 Rhyme

Angry that his wonton soup was cold, the rude customer flipped the table in a completely wanton rage.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈwɑːntən/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈwɒntən/

🌳Etymology

Rootwanton

Origin

From Middle English 'wantoun', derived from Old English 'wan-' (lacking, deficient) combined with 'togen' (past participle of 'teon', meaning drawn or trained), originally meaning 'undisciplined' or 'uncontrolled'.

Breakdown

wan- (lacking, lacking discipline) + -ton (past participle suffix, drawn/trained) = wanton (undisciplined, uncontrolled, deliberate)

🎵Rhyme

canton
baton

🔗Collocations

wanton destruction
wanton violence
wanton disregard
wanton cruelty
wanton behavior

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“The teenager's wanton spending of his allowance left him broke by Tuesday.”

“The company showed wanton disregard for environmental regulations.”

😄 Fun example

“His wanton destruction of the kitchen while 'cooking' resulted in ordering pizza again.”

“The dictator's wanton abuse of power led to widespread protests.”

📚Related Words

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