SENSUOUS Synonyms: 38 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'sensuous' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of sensuous are luxurious , sensual , and voluptuous . While all these words mean "relating to or providing pleasure through gratification of the senses," sensuous implies gratification of the senses for the sake of aesthetic pleasure. // the sensuous delights of great music

Q: When is it sensible to use 'luxurious' instead of 'sensuous'?

While in some cases nearly identical to sensuous , luxurious suggests the indulgence of sensuous pleasure inducing bodily ease and languor. // a luxurious hotel

Q: When can 'sensual' be used instead of 'sensuous'?

Although the words sensual and sensuous have much in common, sensual tends to imply the gratification of the senses or the indulgence of the physical appetites as ends in themselves. // a life devoted to sensual pleasures

Q: Where would 'voluptuous' be a reasonable alternative to 'sensuous'?

While the synonyms voluptuous and sensuous are close in meaning, voluptuous implies more strongly an abandonment especially to sensual pleasure. // a voluptuous feast

sensuous

adjective

ˈsen(t)-sh(ə-)wəs

Definition of sensuous next

as in sensory

of or relating to physical sensation or the senses the sensuous pleasure of a massage

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sensual

pleasing to the physical senses a gentle, sensuous breeze

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How is the word sensuous distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of sensuous are luxurious, sensual, and voluptuous. While all these words mean "relating to or providing pleasure through gratification of the senses," sensuous implies gratification of the senses for the sake of aesthetic pleasure.

the sensuous delights of great music

When is it sensible to use luxurious instead of sensuous?

While in some cases nearly identical to sensuous, luxurious suggests the indulgence of sensuous pleasure inducing bodily ease and languor.

a luxurious hotel

When can sensual be used instead of sensuous?

Although the words sensual and sensuous have much in common, sensual tends to imply the gratification of the senses or the indulgence of the physical appetites as ends in themselves.

a life devoted to sensual pleasures

Where would voluptuous be a reasonable alternative to sensuous?

While the synonyms voluptuous and sensuous are close in meaning, voluptuous implies more strongly an abandonment especially to sensual pleasure.

a voluptuous feast

Examples Sentences

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Recent Examples of sensuous Where the first half is pure sensuous Guadagnino hangout yearning-romance picture, the second is the director’s most visually daring cinematic conquest yet, a detour not part of Burroughs’ book. —

Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2024 His sensuous instinct for external expression is reinforced by the sensitive detail of his buildings at street level, but more dramatically by their massing into terraced setbacks in the higher stories — ironically, in response to a constraint, the New York zoning regulation of 1916. —

David Netto, Curbed, 17 Oct. 2024 Each one provided a perverse kind of escapism: a dark fantasy depicting Miami as a dreamy, sensuous war zone dotted with glass skyscrapers, cobalt swimming pools, and pastels. —

Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024 Some of Chan’s pieces feature symbolization, the expression of emotion, and the exemplification of sensuous properties. —

Anthony Demarco, Forbes, 6 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sensuous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sensuous

Adjective

Refrigerate perishables after use, avoid cross-contamination and rely on sensory cues—smell, texture and color—rather than dates alone to evaluate food safety.

— Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
The sensory stimulation, combined with the sheer number of passengers, is a bit of everything all at once, which made the Yacht Club an even more welcoming retreat.

— Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 17 Jan. 2025