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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prurient
In the decades that followed, the media took a similarly prurient tack in its coverage of women’s competitive swimming.
—
Sophia Stewart, The Atlantic, 21 June 2024
But beyond it, Morgan sketches a real Manhattan ruled by prurient and destructive masculine appetites, from subway tunnels occupied by ad hoc homeless communities to office towers where the city’s most powerful residents impose their wills on millions of fellow New Yorkers.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 31 May 2024
That might also have had something to do with a male protagonist being less subject to the prurient aspects of Sorrentino’s gaze.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 May 2024
The common theme emerging from these politically conservative Marylanders is that Maryland public school librarians have nothing substantial to offer regarding the protection of young minds from prurient interests.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 18 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for prurient
Sophia Stewart, The Atlantic, 21 June 2024
But beyond it, Morgan sketches a real Manhattan ruled by prurient and destructive masculine appetites, from subway tunnels occupied by ad hoc homeless communities to office towers where the city’s most powerful residents impose their wills on millions of fellow New Yorkers.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 31 May 2024
That might also have had something to do with a male protagonist being less subject to the prurient aspects of Sorrentino’s gaze.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 May 2024
The common theme emerging from these politically conservative Marylanders is that Maryland public school librarians have nothing substantial to offer regarding the protection of young minds from prurient interests.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 18 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for prurient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prurient
Adjective
-
Alternatively, warm your hands with the electric fireplace while catching a flick on the smart TV to enjoy in the winter months, as well as many cross-country skiing trails nearby.—
Rachel Fletcher,
Architectural Digest,
22 Feb. 2025
-
In winter, your mid layers might be something like a 300-weight fleece jacket paired with a much warmer puffer.—
Scott Gilbertson,
WIRED,
22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Most of my writing energy went into composing my vast unpublishable novels, one and then another.—
Andrew Cockburn,
Harper's Magazine,
22 Aug. 2024
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Contemporary critics tend to breeze through the last two decades of Schwartz’s life, hitting only the saddest events: the second divorce; the increasing alcoholism; the unpublishable poems, many written during bouts of mania; the money problems; the undignified death.—
Maggie Doherty,
The New Yorker,
15 Apr. 2024
Adjective
-
The Belgian blonde Buddy System is a spicy 6.4%, and the German-style helles checks in at 5.8%.—
Jason Mastrodonato,
The Mercury News,
21 Feb. 2025
-
News how Shepard reacted to watching her steamy scenes with Brody, 44, in the spicy series.—
Esther Kang,
People.com,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The truth about our involvement in Ukraine to oppose Russia is obscene.—
Bruce Fein,
Baltimore Sun,
13 Feb. 2025
-
The amount of cash being tossed around is obscene, and that’s part of what makes the show guiltily watchable.—
James Hibberd,
The Hollywood Reporter,
4 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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He was convicted of attempting to commit lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 and is listed on the Megan’s Law website.—
Nathan Solis,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2025
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Robert Alan Rouse, 36, of Clearwater, is charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim under 12 years old, according to Pinellas County court records filed by Clearwater police.—
Alexandra Koch,
Fox News,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Orange Beach has a vulgarity ordinance on the books, which was enacted about a decade ago amid concerns about vulgar or indecent T-shirts and other merchandise sold at souvenir stores.—
al,
al,
20 Jan. 2023
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Because there are more good people than indecent ones.—
Jack Irvin,
Peoplemag,
12 Jan. 2023
Adjective
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The latest: Photos and videos posted to Facebook, Reddit and other sites showed the Patriots Place sign displaying non-explicit cartoon images of anthropomorphic dogs, a cat and one very suggestive purple wolf on a rainbow background.—
Mike Deehan,
Axios,
25 Feb. 2025
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However, both workers had shown symptoms suggestive of infection, the study said.—
Susanne Rust,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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This was to help end the puppy mill industry, where dogs are bred en masse, leading them to be born and raised in filthy and neglected conditions.—
Andrew Sheeler,
Sacramento Bee,
12 Feb. 2025
-
The boys all came home, filthy and with unbrushed teeth.—
Marla Jo Fisher,
Orange County Register,
5 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to prurient
Cite this Entry
“Prurient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prurient. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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