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
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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
-
The National Weather Service recommends stocking essential items like non-perishable food, water and warm clothing for severe winter events.—
Diana Leyva,
Nashville Tennessean,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The lookalike duo flashed their identical warm smiles while attending the Mothers & Daughters 4 Choice event back in '94.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Which was a fun mid-century technique to render a pic unpublishable.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
22 Aug. 2025
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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
-
Eragon has a different approach altogether with its spicy amber profile.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Dishes include banana bread pudding or spinach frittata with goat's cheese for breakfast and pork shoulder with figs, or Orecchiette with spicy vodka sauce for lunch and dinner.—
Amanda Greenwood,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Banners containing commercial, political or obscene material, or that block guest views.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
4 Nov. 2025
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Just another week in the world of Ball, who was fined $35,000 by the NBA on Monday for making an obscene gesture in the fourth quarter of the Hornets’ 144-117 loss to Miami.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Timothy Scott Jaekel, 52, was arrested on seven counts of committing lewd or lascivious acts with a child younger than 14 years old.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
17 Oct. 2025
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Jordan Peter Mendez was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and a count of lewd or lascivious acts with a minor younger than 14, both felonies.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The waste feels more flagrant with every pornographic shot of a Chanel bag, vintage car or over-the-top ensemble.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
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Opponents of the books describe them as pornographic.—
Adrienne Davis,
jsonline.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Obscene, offensive, indecent or inappropriate attire.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
4 Nov. 2025
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Anyone else in the room would expect to be arrested for behaving in such an indecent way in public, the man said.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Small settings changes can make a big difference in reducing exposure to harmful or suggestive content.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
5 Nov. 2025
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Some of the women complained about unwanted touches, flirting, kisses and suggestive comments.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prurient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prurient. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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