prurient

adjective

pru·​ri·​ent ˈpru̇r-ē-ənt 

: marked by or arousing an immoderate or unwholesome interest or desire

especially : marked by, arousing, or appealing to sexual desire

pruriently adverb

Examples of prurient in a Sentence

He took a prurient interest in her personal life.

a book that appealed to the prurient curiosity of its readers

Recent Examples on the Web

This was intended benevolently, but naturally carried with it the inescapable whiff of prurient patronization. — Literary Hub, 2 Nov. 2026

Some lamented the format—essentially a full-length rendition of the LP, nothing more; venues were downsized as excitement (and prurient interest in the album’s salacious subject matter) began to dull. — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 30 Oct. 2026

What if the creature from John Carpenter’s The Thing had a prurient interest in one of the researchers? — Brianne Kane, Scientific American, 12 June 2026

If minors are sent nude or otherwise prurient photos, the images are blurred. — John Tamny, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin prurient-, pruriens, present participle of prurire to itch, crave; akin to Latin pruna glowing coal, Sanskrit ploṣati he singes, and probably to Latin pruina hoarfrost — more at freeze

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for prurient

• parturient

Kids Definition

prurient

adjective

pru·​ri·​ent ˈpru̇r-ē-ənt 

: having or revealing indecent desires or thoughts

pruriently adverb

Legal Definition

prurient

adjective

pru·​ri·​ent ˈpru̇r-ē-ənt 

: marked by or arousing an unwholesome sexual interest or desire

pruriently adverb