as in onanistic
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Recent Examples of masturbatory
More than masturbatory daydreams, Vladimir inspires our heroine to write with abandon, ignoring professional and personal obligations in service to her muse.
—
Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026
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
Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for masturbatory
Adjective
-
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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Venus, planet of relationships, dances into Cancer from May 18 until June 13, which will bring a sensual, tender, and compassionate energy to our lives — and can improve connections with family or encourage us to cozy up at home.—
Kyle Thomas,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
-
Other demos are meant to be more sensual or shocking.—
Victoria M. Walker,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
But the gown, like Monroe herself, has more to it than just a vague perfume of voluptuous Americana.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
The flakes were slow and voluptuous, and already the wraithlike branches outside the window were fattening with white.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This simply could not be… not Prince, the genius, larger-than-life singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist who rebirthed pop music into a new sensuous funk-new wave-rock-soul musical form known to the world as the Minneapolis Sound.—
Keith Murphy,
VIBE.com,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Like other living things, plants existed in sentient and even sensuous relation to one another.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In Love Story, the Hannah character is self-absorbed and high-maintenance, acting as something of a foil, leaving the viewer to root for Carolyn to end up with John.—
Kate Storey,
Rolling Stone,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Marty is self-absorbed, forgetful, doesn’t much like people and spends hours online looking for advice about how to be a handyman.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Masturbatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masturbatory. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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