prurient

adjective

pru·​ri·​ent ˈpru̇r-ē-ənt How to pronounce prurient (audio)
: 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
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.
In response, Baxter and many other trans artists prefer to play with such perceptions, frustrating the gaze of prurient onlookers. Grace Byron, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025 First, would the work as whole be seen as prurient by an ordinary person using community standards. Peter Greene, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025 The year that final season aired, 2004, is possibly when television’s prurient obsession with rich people really kicked off, with the launch of shows including Desperate Housewives, Entourage, and, notably, The Apprentice. Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 7 June 2025 Then it was replaced by prurient talk about a nude shot. Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prurient

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of prurient was in 1592

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prurient.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prurient. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

prurient

adjective
pru·​ri·​ent ˈpru̇r-ē-ənt How to pronounce prurient (audio)
: having or revealing indecent desires or thoughts
pruriently adverb

Legal Definition

prurient

adjective
pru·​ri·​ent ˈpru̇r-ē-ənt How to pronounce prurient (audio)
: marked by or arousing an unwholesome sexual interest or desire
pruriently adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on prurient

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