Licentious
adjective
Showing lack of moral discipline or ignoring legal or moral restraints, especially regarding sexual conduct.
The king led a licentious lifestyle, ignoring the law and moral rules.
Often appears as...
- licentious behaviour
- licentious lifestyle
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
adjective
Denoting literature or theatrical productions dealing with themes of a sexual nature.
The licentious play was banned due to its explicit sexual content.
Often appears as...
- licentious literature
- licentious drama
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
Literary
adjective
Showing lack of moral discipline or ignoring legal or moral restraints, especially regarding sexual conduct.
The king led a licentious lifestyle, ignoring the law and moral rules.
Often appears as...
- licentious behaviour
- licentious lifestyle
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
adjective
Denoting literature or theatrical productions dealing with themes of a sexual nature.
The licentious play was banned due to its explicit sexual content.
Often appears as...
- licentious literature
- licentious drama
Usage tips
Formal, Disapproving
Literary
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Licentious has a negative connotation, implying excessive freedom that is morally wrong or offensive.
Many criticized the artist's licentious display in the public gallery.
Pro Tip 2/3Historical Usage
Historically, 'licentious' was often used to describe rulers or the elite who misused their power for pleasure.
Noble tales often depict a licentious duke squandering wealth and ignoring duties.
Pro Tip 3/3Avoid Confusion
Don't confuse 'licentious' with 'licensed'; one implies moral disapproval, while the other means having permission.
Despite being a licensed physician, his licentious behavior was frowned upon.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Licentious has a negative connotation, implying excessive freedom that is morally wrong or offensive.
Many criticized the artist's licentious display in the public gallery.
Pro Tip 2/3Historical Usage
Historically, 'licentious' was often used to describe rulers or the elite who misused their power for pleasure.
Noble tales often depict a licentious duke squandering wealth and ignoring duties.
Pro Tip 3/3Avoid Confusion
Don't confuse 'licentious' with 'licensed'; one implies moral disapproval, while the other means having permission.
Despite being a licensed physician, his licentious behavior was frowned upon.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Licentious has a negative connotation, implying excessive freedom that is morally wrong or offensive.
Many criticized the artist's licentious display in the public gallery.
Pro Tip 2/3Historical Usage
Historically, 'licentious' was often used to describe rulers or the elite who misused their power for pleasure.
Noble tales often depict a licentious duke squandering wealth and ignoring duties.
Pro Tip 3/3Avoid Confusion
Don't confuse 'licentious' with 'licensed'; one implies moral disapproval, while the other means having permission.
Despite being a licensed physician, his licentious behavior was frowned upon.
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Video examples
The surprising origins...
“a whore who sang about her own licentiousness.” Later, a Pope and Archbishop ordered her poetry burned. Almost all of it had vanished by the Middle Ages. Then, about a century ago, people began rediscovering Sappho’s poetry—
Video examples
C.K. Williams: Poetry...
Because there were images in it he said were licentious. The display was a photo. Men and women stripped naked, some trying to cover their genitals, others too frightened to bother, lined up in snow
Video examples
The surprising origins...
“a whore who sang about her own licentiousness.” Later, a Pope and Archbishop ordered her poetry burned. Almost all of it had vanished by the Middle Ages. Then, about a century ago, people began rediscovering Sappho’s poetry—
Video examples
C.K. Williams: Poetry...
Because there were images in it he said were licentious. The display was a photo. Men and women stripped naked, some trying to cover their genitals, others too frightened to bother, lined up in snow
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Anthony McCarten
New Zealander Novelist
There's a really fine line between artistic license and artistic licentiousness. And history is a lousy filmmaker. It doesn't give you all the ingredients you need. No story will quite fulfill that three-act structure.
Quote examples
James Q. Wilson
American Politician
Without Liberty, Law loses its nature and its name, and becomes oppression. Without Law, Liberty also loses its nature and its name, and becomes licentiousness.
Quote examples
Norman Rockwell
American Artist
Everyone in those days expected that art students were wild, licentious characters. We didn't know how to be, but we sure were anxious to learn.
Quote examples
Jeremy Collier
English Clergyman
Idleness is an inlet to disorder, and makes way for licentiousness. People who have nothing to do are quickly tired of their own company.
Quote examples
Denis Diderot
French Editor
Bad company is as instructive as licentiousness. One makes up for the loss of one's innocence with the loss of one's prejudices.
Quote examples
Fisher Ames
American Statesman
The known propensity of a democracy is to licentiousness which the ambitious call, and the ignorant believe to be liberty.
Quote examples
Tom Sizemore
American Actor
Although my mother and father were both completely legit, it was all around me, this crime and licentiousness.
Quote examples
George Washington
American President
Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness.
Quote examples
Harriet Ann Jacobs
American Writer
The slave girl is reared in an atmosphere of licentiousness and fear.
Quote examples
Jonathan Mayhew
American Clergyman
There are men who strike at liberty under the term licentiousness.
Quote examples
Anthony McCarten
New Zealander Novelist
There's a really fine line between artistic license and artistic licentiousness. And history is a lousy filmmaker. It doesn't give you all the ingredients you need. No story will quite fulfill that three-act structure.
Quote examples
James Q. Wilson
American Politician
Without Liberty, Law loses its nature and its name, and becomes oppression. Without Law, Liberty also loses its nature and its name, and becomes licentiousness.
Quote examples
Norman Rockwell
American Artist
Everyone in those days expected that art students were wild, licentious characters. We didn't know how to be, but we sure were anxious to learn.
Quote examples
Jeremy Collier
English Clergyman
Idleness is an inlet to disorder, and makes way for licentiousness. People who have nothing to do are quickly tired of their own company.
Quote examples
Denis Diderot
French Editor
Bad company is as instructive as licentiousness. One makes up for the loss of one's innocence with the loss of one's prejudices.
Quote examples
Fisher Ames
American Statesman
The known propensity of a democracy is to licentiousness which the ambitious call, and the ignorant believe to be liberty.
Quote examples
Tom Sizemore
American Actor
Although my mother and father were both completely legit, it was all around me, this crime and licentiousness.
Quote examples
George Washington
American President
Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness.
Quote examples
Harriet Ann Jacobs
American Writer
The slave girl is reared in an atmosphere of licentiousness and fear.
Quote examples
Jonathan Mayhew
American Clergyman
There are men who strike at liberty under the term licentiousness.
Example 1 of 10
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