licentious

[lahy-sen-shuh s] /laɪˈsɛn ʃəs/
adjective
1.
sexually unrestrained; lascivious; libertine; lewd.
2.
unrestrained by law or general morality; lawless; immoral.
3.
going beyond customary or proper bounds or limits; disregarding rules.
Origin
1525-35; < Latin licentiōsus unrestrained. See license, -ous
Related forms
licentiously, adverb
licentiousness, noun
nonlicentious, adjective
nonlicentiously, adverb
nonlicentiousness, noun
overlicentious, adjective
overlicentiously, adverb
overlicentiousness, noun
unlicentious, adjective
unlicentiously, adverb
unlicentiousness, noun
Can be confused
lascivious, licentious.
Synonyms
2. abandoned, profligate.
Antonyms
2. lawful.
Examples from the web for licentious
  • The only thing co-opted is the date, which was used to try and entice the pagans from their rather licentious festivities.
  • He then broke into one of their licentious ballads, and was soon accompanied by all the rest of this depraved chorus.
  • Because of her licentious behavior, her husband also abandoned her.
British Dictionary definitions for licentious

licentious

/laɪˈsɛnʃəs/
adjective
1.
sexually unrestrained or promiscuous
2.
(rare) showing disregard for convention
Derived Forms
licentiously, adverb
licentiousness, noun
Word Origin
C16: from Latin licentiōsus capricious, from licentialicence
Word Origin and History for licentious
adj.

"morally unrestrained," 1530s, from Medieval Latin licentiosus "full of license, unrestrained," from Latin licentia (see license). Related: Licentiously; licentiousness.