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SAT TEM8
外刊例句
- In his departure, as in government, Mr Johnson demonstrated a wanton disregard for the interests of his party and the nation.
约翰逊在他离任时，与执政时一样，表现出对其政党和国家利益的肆意漠视。
——《经济学人》 - In the early part of the 20th century, the game was so violent and played with such wanton disregard for safety that fatal injuries were not uncommon.
在20世纪初期，这项运动非常暴力，而且肆意漠视安全，以至于致命伤并不少见。
——《纽约时报》
基本释义
[adjective] (of a cruel or violent action) deliberate and unprovoked
[形容词] （指残忍或暴力的行为）蓄意且无端的
深入解读
Wanton 是一个容易与 wonton （云吞、馄饨）相混淆的单词。该词最早出现于14世纪初，由中古英语专用造词要素 wan- （缺少的、缺乏的、不足的）+ towen （训练、训导）构成。
Wanton 现在主要用在名词前表示“恶意的、恣意的、意在伤害的”，常作正式用语使用，用来形容残忍或暴力的行为是蓄意且无端的，强调除了反复无常、鲁莽胡闹、任意武断或纯粹恶意之外别无任何动机或理由，比如：
- 草菅人命
wanton destruction of human life - 成群结伙的年轻人昨天在城里横冲直撞。肆无忌惮的暴行在城市生活中越来越司空见惯。
Gangs of youths went on the rampage in the city yesterday. Wanton violence is now becoming a regular feature of urban life.
从14世纪末起， wanton 开始用在性放纵方面表示“淫荡的、淫乱的、水性杨花的”，多指女人性行为无节制或者有许多随意的性关系，常意味着道德上不负责任或者对道德约束漠不关心的性格或生活方式。不过这一含义已不再流行，现在一般仅作戏谑用语使用。
权威用例
美国政府肆意实施制裁引发他国人权危机受到国际社会强烈谴责。
The U.S. wanton imposition of sanctions has triggered human rights crises in other countries, which has been strongly condemned by the international community.
同近义词
- deliberate: done consciously and intentionally
- malicious: characterized by malice; intending or intended to do harm
- malevolent: having or showing a wish to do evil to others
