wantonness

USAGE SUMMARY

'wantonness' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is a noun meaning “the quality of having no regard for accepted rules or standards of behavior”. It is often used with a negative connotation, to describe recklessness or a disregard for authority. Example sentence: His wantonness led to him being reprimanded by his teacher.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

This sort of wantonness runs wild like a wind-borne weed on a plot laid out for daisies.Communism she likened to the abominable snowman horrid and unreal though she stayed in the party until 1966, hoping "to try to fix it all from the inside".

The Economist

For an act to be evil, it must be significantly wrong, embarked upon with full knowledge of its wantonness and embraced wholeheartedly by the person doing the deed.

The Economist

Despite the poverty of northern Nigeria – where 70 per cent of people live on less than 60p a day – the Boko Haram terrorist group has at its disposal a seemingly limitless amount of heavy weaponry, vehicles, bombs and ammunition that it uses to kill with unfathomable wantonness.

Independent

("A sex-crazed whore who sings of her own wantonness," one theologian wrote, just as a scribe was meticulously copying out the lines that Obbink deciphered).

The New Yorker

None capture her subversive modernity the way Lepape did: confronting the beholder from under a purple cloche with swollen lips and a sullen gaze that manages to project both wantonness and reserve.

The New Yorker

Even so, after all that has been argued and promised, anything less than a sustained effort to restore order, keep the country together, and generally nation-build would expose the Administration to charges of wantonness and hypocrisy.

The New Yorker

It was also during these buoyant Village years that Millay promoted her marquee name as a femme fatale with impious little jingles — advertisements for wantonness — that everyone recited: My candle burns at both ends; It will not last the night; But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends — It gives a lovely light!

The New Yorker

The wantonness of these acts, along with the crudeness of the weapons, suggested that something almost medieval was under way — "Braveheart" in the Bronx.

The New Yorker

He feels there is wantonness in it.

The New Yorker

They're minxes accused of murder, sitting in their courtroom seats with scarlet letters emblazoned on their chests, no jury needed to pronounce them guilty of wantonness at the very least.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

(He would write a one-act play, one of his best works, about Mozart and Salieri, in which Salieri, maddened by Mozart's genius and 'idle wantonness', poisons him.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the connotations: "wantonness" often carries a negative moral judgment. Use it when you want to convey disapproval of uncontrolled behavior.

Common error

Avoid using "wantonness" when a simpler term like "recklessness" or "carelessness" would suffice. "Wantonness" implies a deliberate disregard for standards, not just a lack of attention.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "wantonness" is as a noun. It typically serves as the subject or object of a sentence, referring to the state or quality of being wanton. Ludwig AI provides examples where it describes actions or behaviors characterized by recklessness and lack of restraint.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Books

15%

Opinion

10%

Less common in

Science

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "wantonness" functions as a noun to describe a state of recklessness or a lack of restraint, often with negative connotations. Ludwig AI indicates the word is used correctly and frequently across various reliable sources. While understandable in most situations, it appears most often in news, media, and literature. Keep in mind "wantonness" suggests more than mere carelessness; it implies a deliberate disregard for accepted standards.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

recklessness

Focuses on the lack of care and potential danger involved.

licentiousness

Highlights the unrestrained and often immoral sexual behavior.

unrestrained behavior

Emphasizes the lack of control over one's actions.

lack of restraint

More general, pointing to an absence of self-control.

shamelessness

Focuses on the lack of shame or embarrassment.

abandonment

Highlights a complete surrender to impulses or desires.

profligacy

Emphasizes wasteful and extravagant behavior, particularly with money.

debauchery

Refers to excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures.

dissoluteness

Highlights the lack of moral restraint and self-discipline.

indiscipline

Focuses on the lack of self-control and order in one's behavior.

FAQs

How can I use "wantonness" in a sentence?

You can use "wantonness" to describe a state of recklessness or lack of restraint. For example, "The dictator's wantonness led to the destruction of his country."

What words are similar to "wantonness"?

Similar words include "recklessness", "licentiousness", and "unrestrained behavior". Choose the word that best fits the specific context.

Is "wantonness" a positive or negative trait?

"Wantonness" generally has a negative connotation, implying a lack of regard for accepted standards or rules of behavior. It suggests recklessness and irresponsibility.

What is the difference between "wantonness" and "carelessness"?

"Carelessness" implies a lack of attention or diligence, while "wantonness" suggests a deliberate and reckless disregard for rules, morals, or consequences.