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

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

During this time, Law was hounded by the press and made into an object of prurient fascination and lust. —Ramin Setoodeh, Variety, 30 Oct. 2024

Apart from prurient interest, why should any of us really care? —Robin Abcarian, The Mercury News, 3 Oct. 2024

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