lascivious

adjective

las·​civ·​i·​ous lə-ˈsi-vē-əs How to pronounce lascivious (audio)
Synonyms of lasciviousnext
: filled with or showing sexual desire : lewd, lustful
lascivious acts/thoughts
arrested for lewd and lascivious assault
… crude and lascivious remarks …—John Nichols
He is every woman's worst nightmare: the lascivious shark in a gold chain, loud sport shirt and polyester suit …—Susan Schindehette et al.
lasciviously adverb
His show always began with Benny in a public park leering lasciviously at a bevy of young beauties … —Gyles Brandreth
lasciviousness noun
… he satirized the contrived unions favored by upper society, exposing the greed, corruption, and lasciviousness with which they were permeated. —Harvey Rachlin

Synonyms of lascivious

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Examples of lascivious in a Sentence

He was arrested for lewd and lascivious behavior. was criticized for making lascivious remarks that offended many in the group
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The 64-year-old Fort Bragg man was arrested on suspicion of committing lewd or lascivious acts with a child younger than 14, the Amador County Sheriff’s Office announced in a news release. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 4 Aug. 2026 But returning Sara to the manufacturer proves complicated, especially so for a lascivious Ultima technician (Oliver Cooper) sent to collect the defective model. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Aug. 2026 Anthony Joseph Ramon, 25, of Gilroy, was first arrested on July 9 and charged with committing lewd and lascivious acts on a minor, according to the Morgan Hill Police Department. — Jason Green, Mercury News, 30 July 2026 Duggar entered a not guilty plea back in March at his first court appearance after being charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior. — Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for lascivious

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin lasciviosus, from Latin lascivia wantonness, from lascivus wanton — more at lust entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lascivious was in the 15th century

Rhymes for lascivious

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Browse Nearby Words

lascive
lascivious
Las Cruces
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Cite this Entry

“Lascivious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lascivious. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

lascivious

adjective
las·​civ·​i·​ous lə-ˈsiv-ē-əs How to pronounce lascivious (audio)
: lewd sense 1, lustful
lasciviously adverb
lasciviousness noun

Legal Definition

lascivious

adjective
las·​civ·​i·​ous lə-ˈsi-vē-əs How to pronounce lascivious (audio)
: reflecting or producing sexual desire or behavior especially that is considered indecent or obscene
lewd and lascivious behavior

More from Merriam-Webster on lascivious

Nglish: Translation of lascivious for Spanish Speakers

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