Vocabulary Builder — Essay & Answer Writing
Wanton
adjective
/ WON-tun /
Medium
Meaning
Deliberately cruel, reckless, or destructive without motive or justification; showing disregard for others' rights or wellbeing
Origin / Etymology
Old English wan- (deficient) + togen (disciplined or drawn); originally meant 'lacking discipline'; evolved to denote deliberate recklessness or cruelty
Synonyms
Gratuitous
Reckless
Deliberate
Unprovoked
Indiscriminate
Antonyms
Justified
Restrained
Measured
Deliberate (in the careful sense)
Example Sentence
"The National Green Tribunal imposed heavy penalties for the wanton destruction of mangrove forests in the coastal wetlands, noting that construction had proceeded despite a clear court injunction."
🎯 UPSC Usage
Use in GS-3 (environment, disaster management) and GS-2 (governance, law) answers to describe unjustified damage to ecosystems, civil liberties, or public property. Also powerful in GS-4 ethics answers when describing administrative excess or police brutality. Stronger and more morally charged than 'deliberate' — use it when you want to emphasise the unjustifiable nature of an act.
Relevant Subjects