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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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
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Also in the Big Apple, Olivia Rodrigo and her beau Louis Partridge try to keep warm in the chilly weather as Ben Stiller promotes Severance season 2.—
Alexandra Schonfeld,
People.com,
17 Jan. 2025
-
DeSantis’ best choice would have been to appoint a caretaker in Rubio’s place, someone content to keep the seat warm until the next election.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Jan. 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 finish is long and sweet, with lingering fruity and spicy notes.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes,
17 Jan. 2025
-
They are known for serving Sichuan, a specific type of Chinese cuisine that is hot and spicy.—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Yes, this is an obscene price for a Qi wireless charger.—
Julian Chokkattu,
WIRED,
19 Jan. 2025
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Still, justices questioned whether that might put the cost of protecting kids from obscene content online on phone makers like Apple or Google rather than the sites being regulated.—
Ashley Belanger,
Ars Technica,
15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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He was charged with seven counts of lewd and lascivious molestation against a child between 12 and 16 years old, three counts of offenses against students by authority figures, and three counts of lewd and lascivious behavior.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
6 Jan. 2025
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The goal of Troye and Charli’s austere, loud, lascivious evening is to take the sweet abandon of the club and scale it up to the arena.—
Jeremy D. Larson,
Pitchfork,
24 Sep. 2024
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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Entire pieces can—and have—been written on the suggestive use of food in Luca Guadagnino's films alone.—
Eliana Dockterman,
TIME,
21 Dec. 2024
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The question is not how or why this character begins turning into a furry, rodent-killing canine at night, which Heller shows via a few suggestive body-horror shots and quick cuts, but what the after-effect of the transformation is.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Lamine Yamal’s filthy turn for the second goal (above) let football shine through the politics for a second.—
Phil Hay,
The Athletic,
9 Jan. 2025
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In the earlier seasons of the show, characters were often filthy, caked with dirt and blood, clothes tattered.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
11 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Prurient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prurient. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.
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