titillation

American  

[tit-l-ey-shuhn] / ˌtɪt lˈeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of pleasantly exciting or arousing the senses, emotions, or imagination, often in a sexually suggestive way.

   We strongly condemn journalists who rely on sensationalism and titillation to sell newspapers.

   Elevating the soul through masterful titillation of the senses is what real cooking is all about.

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Etymology

Origin of titillation

First recorded in 1400–50; from Latin titillātiōn-, stem of titillātiō, equivalent to tītillāt(us) + -iō -ion ( def. ); titillate ( def. )

Example Sentences

Compared with many television stories and films about young people, in which grittiness is often mistaken for realism and titillation substitutes for truth, “Betty” feels oddly wholesome, even innocent.

From Los Angeles Times

Now, images of similarly grotesque acts go viral not on postcards or in ornate movie palaces, but on social media; not for titillation, their circulators insist, but as a call for solidarity and social change.

From Washington Post

If you want real estate titillation — either of the Mediterranean grand hotel or the English country house variety — you’d do better on Zillow.

From New York Times

It would have been so easy for a book with this premise to tip into tawdry titillation or shame.

From New York Times

It is titillation, until it’s too much, too real, too ugly.

From The Guardian