as in warm
formal + usually disapproving
having or showing too much interest in sex
He took a prurient interest in their personal life. a book that appealed to the prurient curiosity of its readers
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of prurient
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
And yet this prurient curiosity also threatened the delicate equilibrium between devout Mormonism and hot-mom content that the group’s women were attempting to maintain.
—Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2024
Traditionally, these sorts of pictures have allowed producers to peddle items of prurient interest under cover of edification, while maintaining an attitude of moral superiority that would have made little sense to the people the show is about.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 18 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for prurient
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
And yet this prurient curiosity also threatened the delicate equilibrium between devout Mormonism and hot-mom content that the group’s women were attempting to maintain.
—Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2024
Traditionally, these sorts of pictures have allowed producers to peddle items of prurient interest under cover of edification, while maintaining an attitude of moral superiority that would have made little sense to the people the show is about.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 18 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for prurient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prurient
Adjective
-
Forget the crowds of other Rocky Mountain destinations—Durango gives visitors a warm Colorado welcome, and then some.—
Cu Fleshman,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Fall and winter are ideal for testing the soil in flower and vegetable gardens, as well as warm-season turfgrass lawns.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Which was a fun mid-century technique to render a pic unpublishable.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
22 Aug. 2025
-
But much of what’s popping up on Substack is appealingly specific, the kind of stuff that’s unpublishable elsewhere.—
Emma Alpern,
Vulture,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
For a little bit of spicy kick, make the pimiento cheese with pepper Jack instead of Cheddar.—
Ann Taylor Pittman,
Southern Living,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The star, of course, is ginger root oil—its warm, spicy aroma is blended with cardamom, clove, and coriander, plus a hit of citrus oils (lime, orange, bergamot, grapefruit) and eucalyptus for an energizing, feel-good scent.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The couple quickly began receiving death threats and obscene phone calls.—
Johnny Dodd,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Banners or signs may not be commercial in nature or obscene, or cause any disturbance to other fans.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Bagci remains held without bail on four felony counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child younger than 14 by force or fear, the Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
4 Sep. 2025
-
The six-person jury, made up of five men and one woman, convicted Ramos-Aviles of three of seven lewd and lascivious molestation charges for each of the three victims.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Being the mother of seven was useful, however, when the court debated in January whether there were workable alternatives to age verification requirements for pornographic websites.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
-
As of state legislation passed in 2024, creating or distributing non-consensual pornographic deepfakes is a misdemeanor offense in Indiana.—
Jen Guadarrama,
IndyStar,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Morris’ attorneys had requested the preliminary hearing after the former North Texas pastor was indicted by a grand jury in March on five felony charges of lewd or indecent acts to a child, the Star-Telegram previously reported.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Sep. 2025
-
In May 2022, Batali was found not guilty on charges of indecent battery and assault in Boston Municipal Court.—
Erin Clements,
People.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The album cover, which was shared on Instagram, was immediately met with harsh criticism as many fans labeled the photograph of the singer on all fours with a man pulling her hair as suggestive.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Yes, the suggestive dance routines indicate Carpenter really studied Miley Cyrus’s Bangerz-era twerk heard round the world.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prurient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prurient. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share