titillate

verb

tit·​il·​late ˈti-tə-ˌlāt 

titillated; titillating

transitive verb

1

: to excite pleasurably : arouse by stimulation

2

: tickle sense 1

intransitive verb

: to act as a stimulant to pleasurable excitement

titillation

ˌti-tə-ˈlā-shən 

noun

titillative

ˈti-tə-ˌlā-tiv 

adjective

Synonyms

• charge
• electrify
• excite
• exhilarate
• galvanize
• intoxicate
• pump up
• thrill
• turn on

Examples of titillate in a Sentence

a film made to titillate the audience

writing that titillates and provokes

Recent Examples on the Web

Both titillating, memorable situations for our heroines, but this one doesn’t do much to develop character or plot. 79. —Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, Vulture, 1 Apr. 2024

The titillating series also explores the iconic establishment’s connection to the local hip-hop scene. —Michael Saponara, Billboard, 13 Mar. 2024

And yet there were just as many moments when Everett seemed open to the duplicity involved in biographical journalism—titillated, even, by the idea of participating in it. —Maya Binyam, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024

So can an actual connection — at any age — do more for a film than titillating casting? Oscar- and Tony-winner — and three-time Emmy nominee — Marcia Gay Harden thinks so. —Diane Farr, EW.com, 15 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin titillatus, past participle of titillare

First Known Use

1620, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

titillate

verb

tit·​il·​late ˈtit-ᵊl-ˌāt 

titillated; titillating

1

: tickle entry 1 sense 1

2

: to excite pleasurably

titillation

ˌtit-ᵊl-ˈā-shən 

noun