as in thrill
a pleasurably intense stimulation of the feelings
a cultural critic who argues that people have become too dependent upon the instant gratification and titillation that television and the Internet provide
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Recent Examples of titillation
Kristi Noem, the head of the Department of Homeland Security, posed in front of a group of immigrants sent to a torture site in El Salvador, in a show of sadistic titillation.
—
Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 26 Jan. 2026
Turning our back on data would remove any outside accountability, leave policymakers driving a car without map or road, and lead the country to a place where the titillation of conspiracy and cherry-picked numbers become the only barometer of what’s real.
—Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 4 Jan. 2026
Historically, Minter said, such paintings were a sanctioned form of titillation.
—Dana Goodyear, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025
But the companies that were early to embrace mature AI also encountered legal and societal minefields and harmful abuse as a growing number of people have turned to the technology for companionship or titillation.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2025
There were moments of incredible intimacy as well as moments of titillation and moments of danger.
—Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 8 Oct. 2025
That’s a sad thing for fashion, because fashion is about titillation and should be fun.
—James Fallon, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025
Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 26 Jan. 2026
Turning our back on data would remove any outside accountability, leave policymakers driving a car without map or road, and lead the country to a place where the titillation of conspiracy and cherry-picked numbers become the only barometer of what’s real.
—Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 4 Jan. 2026
Historically, Minter said, such paintings were a sanctioned form of titillation.
—Dana Goodyear, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025
But the companies that were early to embrace mature AI also encountered legal and societal minefields and harmful abuse as a growing number of people have turned to the technology for companionship or titillation.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2025
There were moments of incredible intimacy as well as moments of titillation and moments of danger.
—Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 8 Oct. 2025
That’s a sad thing for fashion, because fashion is about titillation and should be fun.
—James Fallon, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for titillation
Noun
-
The thrill of the secret gatherings remains, but a situation that had seemed impossibly distant now feels disorientingly near.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The experience has ignited fierce debate online about both the thrill and the ethics of the attraction, according to The Sun.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Finding that finishing kick will take some work.—
Doug Padilla,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
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Sinatra went 18-for-22 on field goal attempts and set the Idaho State single-season kick scoring record with 97 total points.—
Aaron Johnson,
Mercury News,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Titillation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/titillation. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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