Meaning & use

licentious

adjective·Advanced

Disregarding conventional moral or sexual restraints in a way seen as immoral or promiscuous.

See it in a sentence

The court's licentious reputation scandalized visitors from more conservative regions.

Critics called the novel licentious for its frank depictions of the characters' affairs.

A note on using this word

Licentious is a formal, judgmental word, generally used to criticize behavior rather than neutrally describe it.

Words with a similar meaning

promiscuousimmoral

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

chaste

Make it your own

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