sensually

[ sen-shoo-uh-lee ]

adverb

1. in a carnal or fleshly way that is preoccupied with the gratification of the senses or physical appetites:

   In our sensually dominated society, the habit of acting out fantasy is becoming a cultural norm.

2. in an unchaste or immoral and unrestrained way:

   Today we are increasingly bombarded with sensually explicit images from the internet, television, movies, and print advertising.

3. in a way that arouses or excites the senses or physical appetites:

   This sensually calculated music is made to move people onto the dance floor—and beyond.

4. in a worldly, materialistic, or irreligious way:

   Those who think merely naturally and sensually do not allow their minds to be lifted up into spiritual light.

5. in a way that relates to the senses or physical sensation:

   Learning happens best when the demand on a learner's "working memory" meets the ability to sensually process the information through both channels—auditory and visual.

Other Words From

• hy·per·sen·su·al·ly adverb
• non·sen·su·al·ly adverb
• sub·sen·su·al·ly adverb
• trans·sen·su·al·ly adverb
• un·sen·su·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of sensually¹

sensual ( def ) + -ly

Example Sentences

This Valentine’s Day, reach for a better box of chocolatesThey are two-bite chocolate-covered confections, which not only offer pure, sensual pleasure, they do so in a better-for-you way, without much added sugar, making them all the more lovable.

From Washington Post

In a world accelerating the digitization of knowledge and the virtual documentation of other people’s lives, we should not forget about our desire to sensually experience.

From Nautilus

We should not forget about our desire to sensually experience.

From Nautilus

We know the HBO drama isn’t the first project to focus on Kidman’s most expressive feature — the poster for Stanley Kubrick’s 1999 drama “Eyes Wide Shut” features Kidman peering out from a sensual kiss with then-husband Tom Cruise.

From Washington Post

The category is a celebration of both sensual movements and concepts.

From Ozy

A beautiful, naked, self-confident woman, sensually cradling...a cod?

From The Daily Beast

His eyes sparkled sensually, incoherent sounds issued from between his clenched teeth.

From Project Gutenberg

She charmed him sensually, but other women had done likewise; she was beautiful, but he could conceive of greater beauty.

From Project Gutenberg

He was enormously fat, and breathed heavily through clean shaven lips that protruded sensually.

From Project Gutenberg

Wild animals signify sensually aroused persons, or further, base impulses, passions.

From Project Gutenberg

The womanish delicacy of his lips had somehow gone, and now they protruded sensually as he sucked at a cheap cigarette.

From Project Gutenberg