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
The year that final season aired, 2004, is possibly when television’s prurient obsession with rich people really kicked off, with the launch of shows including Desperate Housewives, Entourage, and, notably, The Apprentice.
—
Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 7 June 2025
Then it was replaced by prurient talk about a nude shot.
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for prurient
Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 7 June 2025
Then it was replaced by prurient talk about a nude shot.
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for prurient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prurient
Adjective
-
It’s been nearly three years since James and Patricia MacEgan went out for a stroll on a warm spring afternoon in a field near Mahany Park in Roseville.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
26 Mar. 2026
-
For leafy greens, rinse under low-pressure warm water, spin dry in a colander and wash the colander after.—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
The no-frills cuisine is defined by high-quality ingredients, fresh-from-the-ocean seafood, and unusually spicy dishes—by Italian standards, anyway.—
Jenna Curcio,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Mar. 2026
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The menu also includes 6-piece nuggets (crispy or spicy) and 3-piece tenders, available separately.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Using obscene or abusive language Any use of profanity, insults or abusive language is prohibited under the FDCPA.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Pawula was investigated after Hastings lodged a complaint with state police, but charges of harassment through electronic communication and transmitting obscene messages were dropped.—
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
He was charged with lewd and lascivious behavior on a child under 12 years old, according to an arrest affidavit from the Bay County Sheriff's Office in Panama City, Florida.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Duggar was also charged earlier this week with lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim less than 12 years old and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older in connection with the allegations.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
One student, in particular, was sent a pornographic deepfake of his upper school classmate on the communications app Discord, apparently in error.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
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Founded in 2016 by British father and son Guy and Tim Stokely, OnlyFans rose to fame by hosting pornographic material forbidden on most social networks.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
West pleaded guilty in 2000 to five counts of taking indecent liberties with children and was released from state custody in 2006, the (Raleigh) News & Observer reported in 2012 when West stepped down as an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention over revelations about his past.—
Mary Ramsey,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Mar. 2026
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Last year, Morris pleaded guilty to five counts of lewd and indecent acts with a child, and Schott’s pastoral lineage became something of a liability.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
For now, however, the evidence remains suggestive rather than definitive.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Mar. 2026
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Wasserman rode on Epstein’s plane and exchanged suggestive messages with Maxwell, the files the DOJ released show.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Prurient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prurient. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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