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. ); see titillate ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

titillation

These patchwork visions have a restrained, contemplative air that carefully weighs the seriousness of their themes without ever dipping into melodrama or titillation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 26, 2026

The great Argento films were never just about titillation and blood-spatter.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2022

The hysteria about drag queens — who may be neither gay nor transgender, and whose performances often tend toward parody rather than titillation — has been particularly intense.

From Washington Post ● Jun. 22, 2022

I suspect this has something to do with how Succession combines a feeling of behind-the-scenes titillation with the freedom of fiction.

From The Guardian ● Aug. 22, 2019

They loved company with all their souls, and they also felt always a pleasant titillation of their youthful spirits when they saw their grandmother in perturbation.

From Jane Field A Novel by Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman