VOCABULARY — Choose the best synonym (same meaning) of the highlighted definition, based on the sentence. Sentence: “A person unrestrained by the rules of morality or tradition is called a LICENTIOUS person.”

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: libertine

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
“Licentious” describes someone who behaves without moral restraints, especially in sexual conduct, or who disregards accepted rules or conventions. This vocabulary item asks you to pick the best single-word label for such a person in traditional English usage.



Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The definition explicitly mentions lack of restraint by morality or tradition.
  • We need a term historically used to label such a person.
  • Distractors include words that shift to other domains (work habits, legality, employment type).



Concept / Approach:
“Libertine” is the established term for a person who is morally unrestrained, particularly in matters of sexual conduct, and who rejects conventional morality. “Loafer-type” refers to laziness, not moral freedom. “Criminal” implies legal transgression, which is narrower and different from moral laxity. “Freelance” relates to employment status and independence in work, not ethics.



Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Identify the moral-restraint axis as central.2) Match with “libertine,” the precise traditional label.3) Eliminate domain-mismatched options (employment, laziness, legality).4) Confirm that “libertine” is widely used in literature and criticism for this idea.



Verification / Alternative check:
Classic literature and dictionaries pair “licentious” with “libertine,” reinforcing the synonymy in ethical contexts.



Why Other Options Are Wrong:
B) “loafer-type” — connotes idleness, not moral looseness.C) “criminal” — legal category; many licentious acts are not necessarily crimes.D) “freelance” — work arrangement; irrelevant to morality.



Common Pitfalls:
Confusing legal wrong (criminal) with moral permissiveness (licentious). The prompt explicitly mentions morality and tradition.



Final Answer:
libertine

More Questions from Synonyms

Discussion & Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Join Discussion