thirst trap

noun

plural thirst traps

: a photograph (such as a selfie) or video shared for the purpose of attracting attention or desire

A thirst trap is always clearly posted or sent for the attention and admiration of one or more people—but is often done coyly …

—Madeline Merinuk

Several of the videos posted by Mr. Ossoff, 35, who has moppy brown hair and boyish good looks, have been interpreted by his fans as thirst traps.

—Anna P. Kambhampaty

also : someone or something that attracts attention or strong desire

Thirst trap Boris Kodjoe spends a lot of time without clothes in the movie, to the delight of his fans.

—Tonya Pendleton

He's not just a thoughtful and empathetic leader, he's also an A+ thirst trap.

—GQ

Michael Roos is a long-time DJ, and his house is a thirst trap for music lovers with a colossal collection of vinyl, an adjoined music studio and walls lined with memorabilia.

—Eva Raggio

Examples of thirst trap in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Angry Birds 2 even has a real zag moment when the pig leader accidentally displays his dating-app thirst traps during a slideshow presentation about taking on the new big bad. —Jordan Crucchiola, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025

Robert Irwin is keeping the thirst trap train going! —Nicholas Rice, People.com, 5 Apr. 2025

Dylan Efron knows how to set the internet ablaze with thirst traps! —Brian Anthony Hernandez, People.com, 29 Mar. 2025

Meanwhile Tom Brady is not dating Reese Witherspoon. February 2023: Tom Brady finally retires from football, immediately leans into his Divorced Dad phase and posts a thirst trap in his undies. —Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 22 Feb. 2025

What better way to do that than with one of her signature thirst trap photos? —Hedy Phillips, People.com, 29 Jan. 2025

The lifestyle guru has mastered the art of taking a great thirst trap Comments Martha Stewart is a media mogul, renowned author and mega boss in every aspect. —Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 31 Jan. 2025

Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors Jenna Bush Hager is a good sport about her thirst traps going viral. —Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025

The outpour of support for Mangione, including the online thirst traps of the 26-year-old Ivy League graduate, has disturbed most people. —David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Note: Thirst trap in the above sense appears to be a recycling of the phrase in an earlier sense, "feeling of satiety during exercise after drinking a small amount of liquid without fully rehydrating the body."

First Known Use

2011, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for thirst trap

• bandgap
• bitmap
• blackcap
• blackstrap
• bootstrap
• burlap
• claptrap
• entrap
• foolscap
• kidnap
• kneecap
• madcap