prurient

[ proor-ee-uhnt ]

adjective

1. having, inclined to have, or characterized by lascivious or lustful thoughts, desires, etc.
2. causing lasciviousness or lust.
3. having a restless desire or longing.

prurient

/ ˈprʊərɪənt /

adjective

1. unusually or morbidly interested in sexual thoughts or practices
2. exciting or encouraging lustfulness; erotic

Derived Forms

• ˈprurience, noun
• ˈpruriently, adverb

Other Words From

• pruri·ence pruri·en·cy noun
• pruri·ent·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of prurient¹

1630–40; < Latin prūrient- (stem of prūriēns ), present participle of prūrīre to itch

Word History and Origins

Origin of prurient¹

C17: from Latin prūrīre to itch, to lust after

Example Sentences

Small Business Administration has repeatedly denied Club Cobra’s application for COVID-19 relief money, alleging that the establishment offered services of a “prurient sexual nature.”

From Los Angeles Times

Apart from prurient interest, why should any of us really care?

From Los Angeles Times

In his debut performance at the Philadelphia rally he made a thinly veiled reference to a prurient and debunked rumor involving his opponent, Vance, and certain living room furniture.

From Los Angeles Times

More importantly, the political relevance of these two stories can't really be measured by prurient interest.

From Salon

We cover the scatological, the prurient and the juvenile at the expense of explaining to people why Trump is so dangerous, and in doing so, we add to the risk of Trump’s return to office.

From Salon

Related Words

• erotic
• salacious
• sexual