what does wanton mean
wanton Wanton describes something excessive, uncontrolled and sometimes even cruel. The principal sees a food fight as a wanton act of vandalism done with wanton disregard for the rules, but the kids might just see it as fun. Wanton comes from the Old English wan-lacking and togen to train, discipline, in other words, lacking in discipline. Wanton extravagance is excessive and uncontrolled, whereas a wanton act of terrorism is random and intentionally cruel.