as in onanistic
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Recent Examples of masturbatory
Among the books being driven into the woods by pitchfork-wielding villagers this year: Louis C.K.’s masturbatory debut novel, Olivia Nuzzi’s delusional fortune cookie, Woody Allen’s autofictional kvetch-fest, and Kamala Harris’s 304-page excuse for ineptitude.
—
Literary Hub, 17 Dec. 2025
Judging by trophy videos posted to Reddit, most users are training Ani to assist them in baroque masturbatory fantasies.
—Hari Kunzru, Artforum, 1 Dec. 2025
Bardo for being masturbatory and self-pitying, Empire of Light for being shallow and unfocused.
—Vulture, 24 Jan. 2023
Strickland, responding to a question from Tolley about the oddest thing he’d been asked to endorse, recalls being approached by the manufacturer of a masturbatory aid.
—Ian Parker, The New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2022
And this use was a selling point, not a secret, during an era of anti-masturbatory rhetoric.
—Kim Adams, Discover Magazine, 30 June 2020
Literary Hub, 17 Dec. 2025
Judging by trophy videos posted to Reddit, most users are training Ani to assist them in baroque masturbatory fantasies.
—Hari Kunzru, Artforum, 1 Dec. 2025
Bardo for being masturbatory and self-pitying, Empire of Light for being shallow and unfocused.
—Vulture, 24 Jan. 2023
Strickland, responding to a question from Tolley about the oddest thing he’d been asked to endorse, recalls being approached by the manufacturer of a masturbatory aid.
—Ian Parker, The New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2022
And this use was a selling point, not a secret, during an era of anti-masturbatory rhetoric.
—Kim Adams, Discover Magazine, 30 June 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for masturbatory
Adjective
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Likewise, the intensely retrograde gender politics—and the text’s out-of-control, onanistic eroticism—seem fairly personal and specific.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Angela is known for her confident, no-nonsense attitude and her sensual style, often seen on-screen in bikinis, or other tight, revealing and provocative outfits.—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
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The experimental romantic comedy mixes sensual 16mm shots with intimate dialogue.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The era of the boxy, clean silhouette is giving way to voluptuous, biomorphic, curved pieces that aren't afraid of a little embellishment.—
Sophie Aliece Hollis,
Martha Stewart,
7 Jan. 2026
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The engine’s power is delivered as a seamless, voluptuous stream of thrust that plays eerily well with the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.—
Basem Wasef,
Robb Report,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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But ultimately, this trip is a sensuous, unhurried immersion for wine-lovers in terroir, designed for oenophiles who prefer their grands crus paired with time, elegance, and the soft rhythms of the river.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
21 Jan. 2026
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The dance party held at the Vermont and organized by Club 90s, channels the sensuous vacation-from-reality energy adored by fans of the TV show, and the book series it’s based on, that premiered in November and became a breakout hit for HBO Max.—
Martine Thompson,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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In Tim Burton’s breakthrough film, O’Hara played tragically hip Delia Deetz, the pretentious and self-absorbed stepmother of Winona Ryder’s Lydia.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
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Benedict doesn’t realize that the woman who has entirely captured his attention is Sophie, the maid for the formidable Araminta Gun (Katie Leung), aka Lady Penwood and her daughters, the vicious and self-absorbed Rosamund Li (Michelle Mao) and the sweet but simple Posy Li (Isabella Wei).—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Masturbatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masturbatory. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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