adv
wantonly
WON-tuhn-lee
Wantonly (adv) means In a recklessly careless or malicious manner. Example: “The soldiers wantonly destroyed the village's crops.”
adv
1
In a recklessly careless or malicious manner.
"The soldiers wantonly destroyed the village's crops."
How to use wantonly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDoing something recklessly or cruelly, without any regard for the consequences.
Common pairings
wantonly destroy
wantonly cruel
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more wantonly
- Superlative
- most wantonly
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The soldiers _____ destroyed the village's crops.
Etymology
From Middle English wantounly, wantounliche, equivalent to wanton plus -ly.
Synonyms
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licentiously
promiscuously
Related words
Rhymes for wantonly
See all rhymes for wantonly →Frequently asked questions
What does “wantonly” mean?
The word “wantonly” means in a recklessly careless or malicious manner. In plain terms, doing something recklessly or cruelly, without any regard for the consequences.
How do you pronounce “wantonly”?
“Wantonly” is pronounced WON-tuhn-lee (/ˈwɒntənli/ in IPA).
How do you use “wantonly” in a sentence?
Here is “wantonly” used in a sentence: “The soldiers wantonly destroyed the village's crops.”
What part of speech is “wantonly”?
“Wantonly” is an adverb.
