masturbatory
adjective
mas·tur·ba·to·ry
ˈma-stər-bə-ˌtȯr-ē 
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
D. R. KatzExamples of masturbatory in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Bardo for being masturbatory and self-pitying, Empire of Light for being shallow and unfocused.
—Vulture, 24 Jan. 2023
And this use was a selling point, not a secret, during an era of anti-masturbatory rhetoric.
—Kim Adams, Discover Magazine, 30 June 2020
Photo: flickr/krossbow Daily masturbatory activity associated with long-term weight reduction.
—Ncbi Rofl, Discover Magazine, 1 Apr. 2013
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
Both Ramy’s rejection of bin Laden and his masturbatory triumph ultimately matter only to himself, not to the classmates whose minds about him are already made up.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2021
Just wait for the next fascist to take office and continue this masturbatory rage ouroboros.
—Megh Wright, Vulture, 19 Jan. 2021
However, charity golf tournaments tend to be a woefully inefficient and exceptionally masturbatory way of trying to raise funds.
—Gary Gramling, SI.com, 21 Oct. 2017
Alfredo Castro plays a 50-year-old in Caracas who pays young men for their company (and masturbatory inspiration).
—Anita Gates, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2016
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.
Vulture, 24 Jan. 2023
And this use was a selling point, not a secret, during an era of anti-masturbatory rhetoric.
—Kim Adams, Discover Magazine, 30 June 2020
Photo: flickr/krossbow Daily masturbatory activity associated with long-term weight reduction.
—Ncbi Rofl, Discover Magazine, 1 Apr. 2013
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
Both Ramy’s rejection of bin Laden and his masturbatory triumph ultimately matter only to himself, not to the classmates whose minds about him are already made up.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2021
Just wait for the next fascist to take office and continue this masturbatory rage ouroboros.
—Megh Wright, Vulture, 19 Jan. 2021
However, charity golf tournaments tend to be a woefully inefficient and exceptionally masturbatory way of trying to raise funds.
—Gary Gramling, SI.com, 21 Oct. 2017
Alfredo Castro plays a 50-year-old in Caracas who pays young men for their company (and masturbatory inspiration).
—Anita Gates, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2016
Cite this Entry
“Masturbatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/masturbatory. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
masturbatory
adjective
mas·tur·ba·to·ry
ˈmas-tər-bə-ˌtōr-ē, -ˌtȯr-
: of, relating to, or associated with masturbation
masturbatory fantasies
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share