salacious
Americanadjective
-
lustful or lecherous.
- Synonyms:
- libidinous, lascivious, wanton, lewd
- Antonyms:
- modest
-
(of writings, pictures, etc.) obscene; grossly indecent.
- Synonyms:
- pornographic
adjective
-
having an excessive interest in sex
-
(of books, magazines, etc) erotic, bawdy, or lewd
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of salacious
1635–45; < Latin salāci- (stem of salāx ) lustful (derivative of salīre to jump, move spasmodically, spurt; see salient, saltation) + -ous
Explanation
Something salacious is full of juicy details — but they're the kind of raunchy, lusty, dirty details you probably don't want to hear. Implying a certain kind of moral looseness, salacious is often used to describe nasty gossip, obscene reports and steamy tales. Salacious things are usually not fit for general public consumption and probably need some kind of parental guidance warning. Think of the tawdry accounts of some politician's affair with a staffer, or a particularly sex-filled reality show on TV.
Vocabulary lists containing salacious
Paper Towns
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Little Fires Everywhere
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
October Sky
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Appeared in the December 6, 2025, print edition as 'A Salacious Stew of Publicity and Revenge'.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 6, 2025
And for years, one of my sisters and I have referred to each other as Salacious Crumb, Jabba the Hutt’s shrill-voiced and crusty little jester, whenever one of us looks particularly unseemly.
From Salon • May 4, 2024
He was most famous for voicing creatures, including the cackling Salacious Crumb from “Return of the Jedi,” as well as the musical, cuddly mogwai and malevolent, reptilian title monsters in “Gremlins” and “Gremlins 2.”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2024
Mr. Dodson’s career began in 1983 on “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi,” when he voiced Salacious B. Crumb, the court jester of Jabba the Hutt that was known for its maniacal laugh.
From New York Times • Mar. 3, 2024
Q. Salacious Selfie: I am an early-30s professional woman in a junior executive position at an ad agency.
From Slate • Oct. 27, 2014
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.
