prurient
Americanadjective
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having, inclined to have, or characterized by lascivious or lustful thoughts, desires, etc.
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causing lasciviousness or lust.
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having a restless desire or longing.
adjective
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unusually or morbidly interested in sexual thoughts or practices
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exciting or encouraging lustfulness; erotic
Other Word Forms
- prurience noun
- pruriency noun
- pruriently adverb
Etymology
Origin of prurient
1630–40; < Latin prūrient- (stem of prūriēns ), present participle of prūrīre to itch
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It’ll be purely sensational, purely prurient, even as it coldly rips through reputations, jobs and legacies.
Otherwise, the only other mildly memorable role is a prurient neighbor played by David Cross, who is really just there to lend the indie production his star clout.
From Los Angeles Times
More importantly, the political relevance of these two stories can't really be measured by prurient interest.
From Salon
Although KBS has defended its publication of the recording, others say the decision was the lowest point in what they regard as frantic, often prurient coverage of Lee.
From Los Angeles Times
He was at his best when he managed to winkle out sensitive details of a guest's life without appearing prurient.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
