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

When he shaved his signature mustache in 2001 — “on a whim,” he said — his viewership erupted in titillation.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 8, 2020

Lately, however, Howard’s bare-knuckled methods drew more than titillation and newsstand sales.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2020

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

Well, what is love but just the titillation produced by this image imprinted on your flesh, just as the pleasure of a pinch is the effect of a titillation of the nerves in the nose?

From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Volume XXII by Wilson, John Mackay