eroticism

noun

erot·​i·​cism i-ˈrä-tə-ˌsi-zəm How to pronounce eroticism (audio)
1
: an erotic theme or quality
2
: a state of sexual arousal
3
: insistent sexual impulse or desire
eroticist noun

Examples of eroticism in a Sentence

the subtle eroticism of his films an actress known for her smoldering eroticism
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.
Groups of bathers, wrestlers, and ironworkers radiate eroticism, but the couples resort to shibboleths, such as the middle finger extended, during a shoulder touch, in Jacques-Émile Blanche’s portrait of himself and his lover. Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 15 July 2025 There’s not much room for nuance here — the political horse-trading involved in creating this opportunity is particularly unconvincing — and the film’s leering eroticism undercuts the seriousness of its case for women as equals on the battlefield. Scott Tobias, Vulture, 20 Nov. 2024 So naturally, themes like desire, eroticism and religion emerge as tools to think about the tensions of my characters within the film’s world. Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 2025 Sexuality and eroticism should be seen as something that brings us pleasure and joy—not something to be feared. Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for eroticism

Word History

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of eroticism was in 1881

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Cite this Entry

“Eroticism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eroticism. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

Medical Definition

eroticism

noun
erot·​i·​cism i-ˈrät-ə-ˌsiz-əm How to pronounce eroticism (audio)
1
: the arousal of or the attempt to arouse sexual feeling by means of suggestion, symbolism, or allusion (as in an art form)
2
: a state of sexual arousal or anticipation (as from stimulation of erogenous zones)
3
: insistent sexual impulse or desire

More from Merriam-Webster on eroticism

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