sensual

[sen-shoo-uhl]

adjective

1. pertaining to, inclined to, or preoccupied with the gratification of the senses or appetites; carnal; fleshly.

2. lacking in moral restraints; lewd or unchaste.

   Synonyms: lascivious

3. arousing or exciting the senses or appetites.

4. worldly; materialistic; irreligious.

5. of or relating to the senses or physical sensation; sensory.

6. pertaining to the philosophical doctrine of sensationalism.

sensual

/ ˈsɛnsjʊəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to any of the senses or sense organs; bodily

2. strongly or unduly inclined to gratification of the senses

3. tending to arouse the bodily appetites, esp the sexual appetite

4. of or relating to sensualism

Other Word Forms

• sensually adverb
• hypersensual adjective
• hypersensualness noun
• nonsensual adjective
• subsensual adjective
• transsensual adjective
• unsensual adjective
• sensualness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sensual¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin sēnsuālis, equivalent to sēnsu-, stem of sēnsus sense + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of sensual¹

C15: from Late Latin sensuālis, from Latin sēnsus _sense . Compare French sensuel, Italian sensuale

Synonym Study

Sensual, sensuous, voluptuous refer to experience through the senses. Sensual refers, often unfavorably, to the enjoyments derived from the senses, especially from the gratification or indulgence of physical appetites: a sensual delight in eating; sensual excesses. Sensuous refers, favorably or literally, to what is experienced through the senses: sensuous impressions; sensuous poetry. Voluptuous implies the luxurious gratification of sensuous or sensual desires: voluptuous joys; voluptuous beauty. See also carnal.

Example Sentences

“There’s a sensual nature to it — human beings touching you,” Althouse said.

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He liked the fresh, colorful and sensual image that a mango instilled, and the universality of a word recognizable in many languages without translation.

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This confident energy carries throughout the project including on the EP’s second feature with fellow London girl group, Flo — whom Kwn calls this generation’s Destiny’s Child — on the sensual “Talk You Through It.”

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Fueling our mass mourning’s ache is a lack of knowing who will ignite the next blaze like the one D’Angelo sparked, forging the sensual and the spiritual, with passion’s hand clasping its mate in prayer.

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The Virginia native’s slim but hugely impactful discography — just three LPs and an assortment of live cuts and loosies — showcased the same loving commitment to the sensual possibilities of pure sound.

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Related Words

• exciting 
• sensuous 
• sexual 
• sexy 
• tactile 
• voluptuous