sensual

adjective

sen·​su·​al ˈsen(t)-sh(ə-)wəl 

-shəl

1

: relating to or consisting in the gratification of the senses or the indulgence of appetite : fleshly

2

: sensory sense 1

3

a

: devoted to or preoccupied with the senses or appetites

b

: voluptuous

c

: deficient in moral, spiritual, or intellectual interests : worldly

especially : irreligious

sensuality

ˌsen(t)-shə-ˈwa-lə-tē 

noun

sensually

ˈsen(t)-sh(ə-)wə-lē 

ˈsen-shə-lē

adverb

Synonyms of sensual

• sensuous
• lush
• pleasant
• delicious
• voluptuous
• delightful
• luxurious
• carnal

Choose the Right Synonym for sensual

carnal, fleshly, sensual, animal mean having a relation to the body.

carnal may mean only this but more often connotes derogatorily an action or manifestation of a person's lower nature.

gave in to carnal desires

fleshly is less derogatory than carnal.

a saint who had experienced fleshly temptations

sensual may apply to any gratification of a bodily desire or pleasure but commonly implies sexual appetite with absence of the spiritual or intellectual.

fleshpots providing sensual delights

animal stresses the physical as distinguished from the rational nature of a person.

led a mindless animal existence

sensuous, sensual, luxurious, voluptuous mean relating to or providing pleasure through gratification of the senses.

sensuous implies gratification of the senses for the sake of aesthetic pleasure.

the sensuous delights of great music

sensual tends to imply the gratification of the senses or the indulgence of the physical appetites as ends in themselves.

a life devoted to sensual pleasures

luxurious suggests the indulgence of sensuous pleasure inducing bodily ease and languor.

a luxurious hotel

voluptuous implies more strongly an abandonment especially to sensual pleasure.

a voluptuous feast

Examples of sensual in a Sentence

A sharp observer with a pleasing eye for sensual detail, Jaffrey weaves a richly textured story in which she effortlessly mingles quotidian dramas with historic events including the partition of India. —Michelle Green, People, 6 Nov. 2006

And Rousseau, in his Confessions, wrote of the sensual pleasure he found in simple meals of peasant cheeses and breads. —Andrea Lee, Gourmet, May 2004

Certain fragrances apparently heighten sensual experiences.

the sensual feel of a velvet shirt against the skin

Recent Examples on the Web

Hossain and her collaborators have conjured an internalized hellscape marked by sensual photography, gnarly cyst makeup, and suffocating matrimonial rituals involving turmeric and milk — all redolent with upper-class heteronormative rot. — Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026

His focus is on himself, his music, his sensual pleasures and his determination not to be anyone’s victim. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026

Tremain’s reimagining of the Rebecca author’s love life is a sensual scorcher. — Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026

Nick Interlandi’s soundscapes swell with the rat-a-tat of machine guns, or zero in on the precise, satisfying crunch of glass cracking under bone, while Oren Soffer’s cinematography runs the gamut from sickly clinical to startlingly sensual. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin sensualis, from Latin sensus sense

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

sensual

adjective

sen·​su·​al ˈsench-(ə-)wəl 

ˈsen-shəl

1

: relating to or consisting in the pleasing of the senses

2

: devoted to the pleasures of the senses

sensuality

ˌsen-chə-ˈwal-ət-ē 

noun

sensually

ˈsench-(ə-)wə-lē 

ˈsen-shə-lē

adverb

Medical Definition

sensual

adjective

sen·​su·​al ˈsench-(ə-)wəl, ˈsen-shəl 

1

: sensory sense 1

2

: relating to or consisting in the gratification of the senses or the indulgence of appetite

3

: devoted to or preoccupied with the senses or appetites