titillate

American  

[tit-l-eyt] / ˈtɪt lˌeɪt /

verb (used with object)

titillated, titillating

1. to excite or arouse agreeably, often in a sexually suggestive way.

   She knows how to titillate the senses and enthrall the mind of her readers with her excellent storytelling.

   Synonyms:

   tempt, rouse

2. to tickle; excite a tingling or itching sensation in, as by touching or stroking lightly.

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titillate British  

/ ˈtɪtɪˌleɪt /

verb

1. to arouse, tease, interest, or excite pleasurably and often superficially

2. to cause a tickling or tingling sensation in, esp by touching

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Other Word Forms

• titillating adjective
• titillatingly adverb
• titillation noun
• titillative adjective
• untitillated adjective
• untitillating adjective

Etymology

Origin of titillate

First recorded in 1610–20; from Latin tītillātus, past participle of tītillāre “to tickle”; -ate ¹

Example Sentences

It was once the job of “sleazy” tabloids to destroy lives with lurid gossip that titillated the public but lacked public interest in the high-minded sense.

From The Wall Street Journal

A good newspaper seeks scoops that illuminate reality and don’t merely titillate.

From The Wall Street Journal

After that, his unclaimed body began its wanderings: as a greeter for an Oklahoma funeral home, as a sideshow attraction for touring carnivals, and even in a titillating 1933 pre-Code film, “Narcotic.”

From Los Angeles Times

What would “White Lotus” be without its titillating score and those warbled “ooh-loo-loo-loo’s?”

From Los Angeles Times

The latter involves computer nerds clicking away at keyboards, which isn't as cinematic and emotionally arresting as the Zapruder film or titillating stories about alien abductions.

From Salon

Related Words

• amuse
• entertain
• tantalize
• tease
• tickle