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Simple English definitions for legal terms
wantonness
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A quick definition of wantonness:
Wantonness is when someone behaves in a way that shows they know the risks but don't care about the consequences. It's worse than recklessness because it often suggests that the person acted with malice. In legal situations, wantonness can lead to more severe punishment. Wanton is the adjective form of this word.
A more thorough explanation:
Wantonness, n. Conduct indicating that the actor is aware of the risks but indifferent to the results. Wantonness usually suggests a greater degree of culpability than recklessness, and it often connotes malice in criminal-law contexts.
- A driver who speeds through a red light, knowing that it is dangerous, is acting with wantonness.
- A person who throws a rock off a bridge onto a busy highway is acting with wantonness because they are aware of the risks and indifferent to the potential harm they could cause.
These examples illustrate how wantonness involves a deliberate disregard for the safety and well-being of others. It goes beyond recklessness, which may involve a lack of awareness of the risks involved. Wantonness implies that the person knows the risks but chooses to act in a way that could cause harm anyway.