dissolute
adjective
dis·so·lute ˈdi-sə-ˌlüt 
-lət
: lacking restraint
especially : marked by indulgence in things (such as drink or promiscuous sex) deemed vices (see vice entry 1 sense 1)
leading a dissolute lifestyle
the dissolute and degrading aspects of human nature 
Wallace Fowlie
Wallace Fowlie dissolutely adverb
dissoluteness noun
Synonyms
- corrupt
- debased
- debauched
- decadent
- degenerate
- degraded
- demoralized
- depraved
- dissipated
- jackleg
- libertine
- loose
- perverse
- perverted
- rakehell
- rakehelly
- rakish
- reprobate
- sick
- unclean
- unwholesome
- warped
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
literature dealing with the dissolute and degrading aspects of human experience
Recent Examples on the Web Mary Nevins eloped at 19 with Jamie Blaine, the dissolute 17-year-old son of the former senator and secretary of state, James G. Blaine. Barbara Spindel, WSJ, 16 Aug. 2022 Her mother, Cora, a travelling nurse with an artistic streak, divorced her children’s dissolute father in 1901. Maggie Doherty, The New Yorker, 9 May 2022 And Queen Victoria was just 18, a fresh girl-queen and a fresh start after a generation of dissolute royal men who spent like wastrels and fathered more illegitimate children than legitimate ones. Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2022 The Argentine Jesuit is the first-ever pope to have named himself after the 13th century friar, who renounced a wealthy, dissolute lifestyle to embrace a life of poverty and simplicity. Fox News, 12 Nov. 2021 Through friends, Shakira hears stories of dissolute cities filled with broken marriages and prostitution. Anand Gopal, The New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2021 Tom Holland, the author of wide-lens books about ancient and medieval history, spoke about Caligula and other dissolute Roman leaders. Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 23 Aug. 2021 Singer Angelo Moore narrates a Christmas Eve close encounter with a drunk, dissolute Santa Claus, belting soulfully over a spartan arrangement of organ and handclaps. Jody Rosen, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2020 One, Candy, is a dissolute superstar who abuses co-workers, shows up on set plastered and moans about how awful her privileged life is. Chris Hewitt, Star Tribune, 10 Dec. 2020 See More
Barbara Spindel, WSJ, 16 Aug. 2022 Her mother, Cora, a travelling nurse with an artistic streak, divorced her children’s dissolute father in 1901. Maggie Doherty, The New Yorker, 9 May 2022 And Queen Victoria was just 18, a fresh girl-queen and a fresh start after a generation of dissolute royal men who spent like wastrels and fathered more illegitimate children than legitimate ones. Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2022 The Argentine Jesuit is the first-ever pope to have named himself after the 13th century friar, who renounced a wealthy, dissolute lifestyle to embrace a life of poverty and simplicity. Fox News, 12 Nov. 2021 Through friends, Shakira hears stories of dissolute cities filled with broken marriages and prostitution. Anand Gopal, The New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2021 Tom Holland, the author of wide-lens books about ancient and medieval history, spoke about Caligula and other dissolute Roman leaders. Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 23 Aug. 2021 Singer Angelo Moore narrates a Christmas Eve close encounter with a drunk, dissolute Santa Claus, belting soulfully over a spartan arrangement of organ and handclaps. Jody Rosen, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2020 One, Candy, is a dissolute superstar who abuses co-workers, shows up on set plastered and moans about how awful her privileged life is. Chris Hewitt, Star Tribune, 10 Dec. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Latin dissolutus, from past participle of dissolvere to loosen, dissolve
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined above
dissolute
adjective
as in corrupt
having or showing lowered moral character or standards literature dealing with the dissolute and degrading aspects of human experience Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- corrupt
- degraded
- sick
- debauched
- libertine
- depraved
- decadent
- degenerate
- reprobate
- perverted
- rakish
- crooked
- loose
- debased
- unwholesome
- perverse
- spoiled
- dissipated
- unclean
- warped
- dishonest
- demoralized
- vicious
- rakehell
- immoral
- wicked
- unprincipled
- unscrupulous
- evil
- bad
- sinful
- jackleg
- rakehelly
- cutthroat
- unethical
- bent
- tainted
- contaminated
- iniquitous
- nefarious
- miscreant
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- pure
- incorruptible
- uncorrupt
- uncorrupted
- virtuous
- honest
- ethical
- righteous
- moral
- good
- principled