Prurience - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Prurience refers to an excessive or unhealthy interest in sexual matters, often characterized by a lewd or lascivious attitude. It implies a preoccupation with salacious details.
Definition:
Excessive interest in sexual matters; lasciviousness or lewdness.
Synonyms:
Lustfulness, lechery, salaciousness, lasciviousness
Part of Speech:
Noun
Antonyms:
Chastity, modesty
Common Collocations:
Prurience of mind, prurience in literature, prurience in media
Derivatives:
Prurient, pruriently
Usage Tips:
Use "prurience" to describe an unhealthy focus on sexual content, often with moral disapproval.
Common Phrases:
Prurience of the flesh, veil of prurience, indulge in prurience
Etymology:
From Latin *prūrient-*, meaning "itching" or "longing," reflecting an obsessive desire.
Examples:
- 1. The novel was criticized for its unnecessary prurience.
- 2. His prurience made others uncomfortable during conversations.
- 3. The film avoided cheap prurience and focused on storytelling.
- 4. She dismissed the gossip as mere prurience.