libertine

28 synonyms and 4 antonyms for libertine, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A person, especially a man, who ignores conventional moral standards and pursues pleasure freely.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

player fast

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

rake degraded

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

adulterer bed-hopper carpetmonger chamberer debauchee debaucher fornicator gallant lecher lewdster hood rat philanderer rantipole rizzler roué seducer voluptuary wanton debauched profligate dissipated riotous degenerate dissolute

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A person, especially a man, who ignores conventional moral standards and pursues pleasure freely.

“The novel's hero is a notorious libertine who charms and abandons a string of lovers.”

adulterer bed-hopper carpetmonger chamberer debauchee debaucher fornicator gallant lecher lewdster hood rat philanderer rake rantipole rizzler player roué seducer voluptuary wanton

Opposites

celibate celibatist monogamist virgin

2. adj

Morally unrestrained; given to indulgence and disregard for conventional standards.

“The court had a reputation for libertine excess.”

debauched degraded profligate dissipated riotous fast degenerate dissolute

Etymology

From Latin libertinus, "a freedman" (a former slave), from liber, "free." The word shifted from describing legal freedom to describing moral looseness.

Full origin of libertine →

Frequently asked questions

What does “libertine” mean?

The word “libertine” means a person, especially a man, who ignores conventional moral standards and pursues pleasure freely. In plain terms, someone who lives by their own rules, especially when it comes to sex and pleasure, ignoring social morals.

How do you pronounce “libertine”?

“Libertine” is pronounced LIHB-uh-teen (/ˈlɪb.ɚ.tin/ in IPA).

How do you use “libertine” in a sentence?

Here is “libertine” used in a sentence: “The novel's hero is a notorious libertine who charms and abandons a string of lovers.”

What is another word for “libertine”?

Words with a similar meaning to “libertine” include adulterer, bed-hopper, carpetmonger, chamberer, debauchee and debaucher.

What is the opposite of “libertine”?

The opposite of “libertine” — its antonyms — are celibate, celibatist, monogamist and virgin.

What part of speech is “libertine”?

Depending on how it is used, “libertine” can be a noun and an adjective.

Where does the word “libertine” come from?

The word “libertine” comes from Latin. From Latin libertinus, "a freedman" (a former slave), from liber, "free." The word shifted from describing legal freedom to describing moral looseness.

How many meanings does “libertine” have?

“Libertine” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person, especially a man, who ignores conventional moral standards and pursues pleasure freely.

People also searched

player fast virgin degraded rake degenerate gallant dissipated rizzler profligate riotous voluptuary

Nearby words

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