as in to excite
to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings
tabloids titillate their readers with racy details about the private lives of media-created celebrities
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 titillate
This is not a titillating tell-all, and all the better for it.
—
Cat Woods, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
The average viewer imagines all sort of carnal activities happening, titillated by what might appear onscreen once the visuals kick in.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2026
The images captured by bystanders and immigration agents were reminiscent of the lynching postcards that white spectators once bought and traded — reproductions of retributive violence, tailor-made to titillate and intimidate.
—Tressie McMillan Cottom, Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2026
Trump’s frenetic social media activity is also aimed more at titillating his hardcore online supporters (and, again, amusing himself) than persuading swing voters.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for titillate
Cat Woods, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
The average viewer imagines all sort of carnal activities happening, titillated by what might appear onscreen once the visuals kick in.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2026
The images captured by bystanders and immigration agents were reminiscent of the lynching postcards that white spectators once bought and traded — reproductions of retributive violence, tailor-made to titillate and intimidate.
—Tressie McMillan Cottom, Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2026
Trump’s frenetic social media activity is also aimed more at titillating his hardcore online supporters (and, again, amusing himself) than persuading swing voters.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for titillate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for titillate
Verb
-
Everyone was excited going into every game.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Something about them having passed away allows for them to be presented on a level playing field, and this is what excites me about this exhibit.—
Michael James Rocha,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Schaaf has been thrilled to see Kundrat break through at the plate over the last few weeks.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
-
So when a park ranger spotted one while monitoring streams in a remote forest in September 2025, the discovery thrilled scientists and wildlife enthusiasts alike — and offered rare data about an endangered species whose ancestors lived alongside dinosaurs.—
Samantha Agate,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Concertmaster Frank Huang and Principal Violist Cynthia Phelps bring their remarkable artistry to Fairbanks Ranch for an intimate and electrifying program.—
Ut Community Press,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The country’s prime minister has tasked his cabinet with identifying priority actions to electrify the economy.—
Natasha Bracken,
semafor.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Titillate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/titillate. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
