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When you act with abandon, you give in to the impulse of the moment and behave in a wild, uncontrolled way.
If you describe a decision, rule, or plan as arbitrary, you think that it was decided without any thought, standard, or system to guide it; therefore, it can seem unfair.
A benefaction is a charitable contribution of money or assistance that someone gives to a person or organization.
If you describe someone as benign, they are kind, gentle, and harmless.
If you comport yourself in a particular way, you behave in that way.
A decadent person has low moral standards and is more interested in pleasure than serious matters.
A situation or thing that is discordant does not fit in with other things; therefore, it is disagreeable, strange, or unpleasant.
Someone who is indulgent tends to let other people have what they want; someone can be kind to excess when being indulgent.
An irreproachable person is very honest and so morally upright that their behavior cannot be criticized.
If someone exhibits magnanimity towards another, they show them kindness and noble generosity, especially after defeating them in battle or after having been treated badly by them.
A malevolent person or thing is evil due to deliberate attempts to cause harm.
Malfeasance is an unlawful act, especially one committed by a trusted public official.
Malice is a type of hatred that causes a strong desire to harm others both physically and emotionally.
Someone who is meritorious is worthy of receiving recognition or is praiseworthy because of what they have accomplished.
When you behave with moderation, you live in a balanced and measured way; you do nothing to excess.
Philanthropy is unselfish support in the form of donating money, work, or gifts to positive social purposes; philanthropy is also overall love for humans in general.
Someone who is profligate is lacking in restraint, which can manifest in carelessly and wastefully using resources, such as energy or money; this kind of person can also act in an immoral way.
To be punctilious is to pay precise attention to detail.
When someone has restraint, they show self-control or self-discipline, which provides limits to what they do.
A scrupulous person takes great care to do everything in an extremely honest, conscientious, and fair manner.
Something statutory, such as the power given to a governor or president, is created, established, and controlled by rules and laws; hence, it has the full force of the law behind it and must be followed.
If you are steadfast, you have a firm belief in your actions or opinions and refuse to give up or change them because you are certain that you are doing the right thing.
If you show temperance, you limit yourself so that you don’t do too much of something; you act in a controlled and well-balanced way.
A thrifty person is careful with how they spend money so they do not waste it.
A feeling that is unbridled is enthusiastic and unlimited in its expression.
An action or deed is unconscionable if it is excessively shameful, unfair, or unjust and its effects are more severe than is reasonable or acceptable.
Someone who is unrestrained is free to do as they please; they are not controlled by anyone but themself, which can lead to excessive behavior.
Something that is volatile can change easily and vary widely.
Adj.
wanton
WON-tn
Context
Two boys were charged with wanton and needless destruction of school property. Police, who said that the boys had no motive but acted simply out of boredom, described their groundless actions as wanton. This wanton disregard for public property upset most of the people in our small town, who were unused to acts of senseless and unprovoked vandalism.
Quiz:Try again!
What is an example of a wanton act?
A hateful and deadly crime against an innocent person.
A high-school prank that’s discovered and stopped.
WantonWonton SoupWonton soup hates me. Every time I get wonton soup at a restaurant it spills for no reason. This wantonwonton soup is very inconsiderate to my clothing and to my hungry stomach!
Examples
The ability to see beauty is the beginning of our moral sensibility. What we believe is beautiful we will not wantonly destroy.
— Reverend Sean Parker Dennison
The complaint accuses the hotel’s owners and operator of "wanton and reckless" acts and "complete disregard [of] the health, safety and well-being" of the employees.
—
USA Today
The public is willing to forgive many things of its celebrities—especially those with electrifying gifts—but wanton cruelty is pretty far down the list.
—
USA Today
One who is “brought up” incorrectly becomes “lessened” in proper discipline or behavioral quality, and hence acts in wanton ways.
origin: Old English
Knowing language of origin or etymology is not important; but is sometimes interesting enough to make the word memorable. Only such words have associated maps.
Word Constellation
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Related Words
abandon ·
arbitrary ·
decadent ·
discordant ·
indulgent ·
malevolent ·
malfeasance ·
malice ·
profligate ·
unbridled ·
unconscionable ·
unrestrained+ ·
volatile ·
benefaction ·
benign ·
comport ·
irreproachable ·
magnanimity ·
meritorious+ ·
moderation+ ·
philanthropy ·
punctilious ·
restraint+ ·
scrupulous ·
statutory ·
steadfast ·
temperance+ ·
thrifty ·
Similar sense
Opposite sense
Word Variants
wantonness
n
→
cruelty; unjustified mercilessness
The section lists important variants and alternate definitions of the headword. Knowing variants will often help you both remember and understand the word. Not all variants are listed - only the ones we think that are important for you to know.
