priapic

adjective

pri·​a·​pic prī-ˈā-pik How to pronounce priapic (audio) -ˈa- How to pronounce priapic (audio)
1
2
: relating to or preoccupied with virility or male sexual excitement

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Bane the sadsack, Bane the priapic colossus. Darren Franich, EW.com, 6 Feb. 2023 Lingas are stone fertility symbols representing the god Shiva, carved in the form of priapic domes. Simon Willis, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2023 Who, apart from the most puritanical and earnest among us, isn’t gripped by the dalliances of an older, powerful, priapic man and a younger, attractive, highly ambitious woman? Lara Prendergast, Harper's Magazine, 26 Oct. 2021 But despite his waxworks appearance, pre-Weinsteinian penchant for priapic innuendo and lingering criminal trials, Mr. Berlusconi, a former Italian prime minister, is no longer the joke of European politics. Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 29 Jan. 2018 Primitive humans once celebrated May 1 with fertility rituals — think maidens with garlands dancing around a priapic maypole. John Kelly, Washington Post, 30 Apr. 2018 There is the occasional priapic silliness and the title is unwieldy if not awful. The Economist, 13 July 2017 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'priapic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin priapus lecher, from Priapus

First Known Use

1786, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of priapic was in 1786

Dictionary Entries Near priapic

Cite this Entry

“Priapic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/priapic. Accessed 4 Jun. 2023.

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