titillation

[ tit-l-ey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of pleasantly exciting or arousing the senses, emotions, or imagination, often in a sexually suggestive way:

   We strongly condemn journalists who rely on sensationalism and titillation to sell newspapers.

   Elevating the soul through masterful titillation of the senses is what real cooking is all about.

Word History and Origins

Origin of titillation¹

First recorded in 1400–50; from Latin titillātiōn-, stem of titillātiō, equivalent to tītillāt(us) + -iō -ion ( def ); titillate ( def )

Example Sentences

She says games are increasingly taking explicit scenes seriously "and not just using them for titillation".

From BBC

He remembers being disturbed by the way adults around him discussed the 1973 film, with a mix of disgust and titillation, like a ghost story.

From New York Times

“Audiences have been burnt by seeing sex scenes in cinema and on TV that are just there for titillation and nothing else,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times

But he lacked the titillation Mr. Big represented; besides, Carrie wasn't looking for Happily Ever After at that point.

From Salon

What we are witnessing is obviously the start of an abusive relationship, and yet this show can’t resist titillation.

From New York Times