masturbatory

adjective

mas·​tur·​ba·​to·​ry ˈma-stər-bə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce masturbatory (audio)
Synonyms of masturbatorynext
1
: of, relating to, or involving masturbation
masturbatory fantasies
2
: excessively self-absorbed or self-indulgent
… write tedious, masturbatory books … about themselves for people to read … with envy.D. R. Katz

Examples of masturbatory in a Sentence

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.
Among the books being driven into the woods by pitchfork-wielding villagers this year: Louis C.K.’s masturbatory debut novel, Olivia Nuzzi’s delusional fortune cookie, Woody Allen’s autofictional kvetch-fest, and Kamala Harris’s 304-page excuse for ineptitude. Literary Hub, 17 Dec. 2025 Judging by trophy videos posted to Reddit, most users are training Ani to assist them in baroque masturbatory fantasies. Hari Kunzru, Artforum, 1 Dec. 2025 Bardo for being masturbatory and self-pitying, Empire of Light for being shallow and unfocused. Vulture, 24 Jan. 2023 Strickland, responding to a question from Tolley about the oddest thing he’d been asked to endorse, recalls being approached by the manufacturer of a masturbatory aid. Ian Parker, The New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2022 And this use was a selling point, not a secret, during an era of anti-masturbatory rhetoric. Kim Adams, Discover Magazine, 30 June 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of masturbatory was in 1864

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Cite this Entry

“Masturbatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/masturbatory. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.

Medical Definition

masturbatory

adjective
mas·​tur·​ba·​to·​ry ˈmas-tər-bə-ˌtōr-ē, -ˌtȯr- How to pronounce masturbatory (audio)
: of, relating to, or associated with masturbation
masturbatory fantasies

More from Merriam-Webster on masturbatory

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