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 Schiele was a highly important artist in turn-of-the-century Vienna, known for the emotional intensity and frank eroticism of his controversial portraits, including those of prepubescent girls. Steven Litt, cleveland, 15 Sep. 2023 That brothel scene created a lot of buzz for depicting Westeros eroticism from a new perspective. James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Aug. 2023 The physical act of letter writing—the movement of pen upon paper, the feeling of thick sheets, the sealing of the envelope—is not without its own eroticism and communicative value. Francesca Stanfill, Town & Country, 22 June 2023 Bischoff’s pages are elegant, especially in their eroticism, which is as frank as it is flowered. Jacob Brogan, Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2023 What results is a thrilling array of voices, with stories ranging from ancient eroticism to modern longing. Oliver Munday, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2023 The mayor wants the Erotic Center to serve many different needs, including creating space for LGBTQI+ communities and offering cultural events linked to eroticism, such as lectures on feminism and tantric yoga courses. Time, 19 July 2023 Weaving together themes of love and exile, politics and the deeply personal, Kundera’s novel won critical acclaim, earning him a wide readership among Westerners who embraced both his anti-Soviet subversion and the eroticism threaded through many of his works. Elaine Ganley and Lori Hinnant, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2023 Gabrielle Union plays the newly single woman who falls for a much-younger man, in a movie that emphasizes chemistry over eroticism, landing somewhere between Hallmark movie and Harlequin romance. Brian Lowry, CNN, 23 June 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'eroticism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of eroticism was in 1881

Dictionary Entries Near eroticism

Cite this Entry

“Eroticism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eroticism. Accessed 2 Oct. 2023.

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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