as in corrupt
having or showing lowered moral character or standards
his libertine sister had got caught up in the urban drug scene and had died of an overdose
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in pervert
a person who has sunk below the normal moral standard
the legend of Don Juan depicts him as a playboy and libertine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of libertine
Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2026
Following Matthew Perry's death in 2023, the actress reflected on her time portraying his character's memorable mother, the libertine erotic novelist Nora Bing.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Nov. 2025
Cutting an image that contrasted with Ali’s more libertine act, Frazier traveled with his family, including his teenage son, Marvis, an aspiring boxer himself.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
The more libertine Chase School encouraged originality and deep engagement with the work from its male and female pupils.
—Anne Halsey, JSTOR Daily, 6 Aug. 2025
The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2025
The libertines will begin the film in suits.
—David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
If there really was a class of unaccountable, libertine global élites plundering the world, then wasn’t Trump obviously a member?
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2026
Following Matthew Perry's death in 2023, the actress reflected on her time portraying his character's memorable mother, the libertine erotic novelist Nora Bing.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Nov. 2025
Cutting an image that contrasted with Ali’s more libertine act, Frazier traveled with his family, including his teenage son, Marvis, an aspiring boxer himself.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
The more libertine Chase School encouraged originality and deep engagement with the work from its male and female pupils.
—Anne Halsey, JSTOR Daily, 6 Aug. 2025
Noun
The protagonist of A Love Story is a lover boy, a libertine, a gossip, a flirt.
—The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2025
The libertines will begin the film in suits.
—David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for libertine
Adjective
-
According to a federal indictment, Maduro and his alleged co-conspirators spent decades working alongside some of the world’s most violent drug traffickers and corrupt regional officials to funnel large quantities of cocaine into the United States.—
Mirna Alsharif,
NBC news,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Jackson argued that Burt Jones' work in the legislature was further evidence that the lieutenant governor is corrupt, a message that the health care tycoon is pushing in advertising too.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Nora Ephron for depressed perverts.—
Antonia Blyth,
Deadline,
16 Feb. 2026
-
You are being spied on by a pervert.—
Jay Ruttenberg,
New Yorker,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Its allies Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza are degraded but functioning, with Israel still regularly launching strikes at both.—
Sam Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The former housekeeper for Jenner further claims that she was mocked for her accent and degraded.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Especially compared to the degenerates and felons all around him in the Mets clubhouse.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The product exploded, generating trillions and minting a new class of crypto degenerates who were willing to take massive risks that, occasionally, resulted in millions.—
Clara Molot,
Vanity Fair,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are most likely to get sick from these germs.—
Jonel Aleccia,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The researchers also hope to test the protocol earlier in pregnancy, before a pregnant person gets seriously sick.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Dane receives more screen time, but his dissolute, oft-drunk character is hard to watch knowing the actor’s offscreen battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.—
Carla Meyer,
San Francisco Chronicle,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Ian Littleworth’s Happy, the dissolute son always looking for an easy way out, seems unsettled not only in his bearings but in his command of the script.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Libertine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/libertine. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
