exhibitionism

ex·hi·bi·tion·ism | \ ˌek-sə-ˈbi-shə-ˌni-zəm

How to pronounce exhibitionism (audio)

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Definition of exhibitionism

1a : a perversion in which sexual gratification is obtained from the indecent exposure of one's genitals (as to a stranger)

b : an act of such exposure

2 : the act or practice of behaving so as to attract attention to oneself

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Examples of exhibitionism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web To shy away from the universality of that theme risks treating her work as exhibitionism. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, "Fiona Apple’s Survival Guide to Isolation," 17 Apr. 2020 Then again, the exhibitionism associated with these programs has always required a certain kind of personality in the first place. — Brian Lowry, CNN, "Netflix's 'dating experiment' shows strip contestants of their senses," 15 Apr. 2020 One day, a woman came in, removed her top and bra and sat there naked in what Ms. Marshall saw as a display of power, not exhibitionism; the scene is replicated in the movie. — New York Times, "Tonie Marshall Dies at 68; French Filmmaker Took On Sexism," 17 Mar. 2020 Wearing the flashy, sporty clothes of a barroom bantam (Alice Tavener did the costumes), Mr. Battiste finds the cancerous, painful insecurity within Walter’s strutting exhibitionism. — Ben Brantley, New York Times, "Review: ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ Burns With New Fire," 1 July 2019 Somewhere beyond exhibitionism and voyeurism—in the oceans beyond the bikinis and sunglasses—Instagram hints at the possibility of real intimacy with landscapes and humans. — Collier Meyerson, WIRED, "Instagram Is Sweet and Sort of Boring—but the Ads!," 24 June 2019 Her exhibitionism and honesty seem entirely normal for a now-adult Disney star trying to shed the suffocating image of a chirpy teenager. — Robin Abcarian, latimes.com, "Bella Thorne’s stolen nude selfies spark a debate about blame and slut-shaming," 21 June 2019 The drag queens and gender-nonbinary youth at such events can appear preoccupied with their own ecstatic exhibitionism. — Andrew Solomon, New York Times, "The First New York Pride March Was an Act of ‘Desperate Courage’," 27 June 2019 The film begins with diversion — a triangle involving Juan’s teenage son — and moves on to Juan’s voyeurism, encouraging Esther to fornication and exhibitionism. — Armond White, National Review, "Franco Zeffirelli: Unlikely Conservative Hero," 20 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'exhibitionism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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exhibition game fowl

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Cite this Entry

“Exhibitionism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exhibitionism. Accessed 11 Jul. 2020.

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More Definitions for exhibitionism

exhibitionism

noun

English Language Learners Definition of exhibitionism

disapproving : behavior that is meant to attract attention to yourself

See the full definition for exhibitionism in the English Language Learners Dictionary

exhibitionism

ex·hi·bi·tion·ism | \ ˌek-sə-ˈbish-ə-niz-əm

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Medical Definition of exhibitionism

1a : a perversion marked by a tendency to indecent exposure

b : an act of such exposure

2 : the act or practice of behaving so as to attract attention to oneself

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