prurient
Excessively sexually interested
Prurient describes an excessive or unhealthy interest in sexual matters: prurient curiosity, prurient content.
The word carries judgment—it suggests the interest is shameful or degrading rather than healthy.
Legal discussions of obscenity often hinge on whether material appeals to "prurient interest," distinguishing pornography from art.
Overtly sexual in manner
- lecherousShowing excessive sexual desire
- libidinousHaving strong carnal desires
- concupiscentStrongly desiring, especially carnally
- carnalRelating to physical urges
lewd · salacious · lubricious · licentious · goatish · randy · horny · aroused
Grossly offensive to decency
- smuttyObscene or indecent
- pornographicSexually explicit in content
- risqueBordering on improper
- suggestiveHinting at impropriety
raunchy · bawdy · ribald · crude · vulgar · dirty · filthy · X-rated
Pleasurably stimulating, often sensually
- morbidUnhealthily drawn to darkness
- pryingIntrusively inquisitive
- peepingLooking through cracks
- curiousEager to learn
ogling · gawking · rubbernecking · leering · snooping · intrusive · nosy · tabloid
Not allowed
- illicitProhibited by law
- shamefulCausing or meriting disgrace
- immoralContrary to ethical principles
- depravedMorally corrupt, perverse
corrupt · impure · sinful · unwholesome · perverse · deviant · transgressive · unmentionable
lascivious
Overtly sexual in manner
- lecherousShowing excessive sexual desire
- libidinousHaving strong carnal desires
- concupiscentStrongly desiring, especially carnally
carnal · lewd · salacious · lubricious · licentious · goatish · randy · horny · aroused · desirous
obscene
Grossly offensive to decency
- smuttyObscene or indecent
- pornographicSexually explicit in content
- risqueBordering on improper
suggestive · raunchy · bawdy · ribald · crude · vulgar · dirty · filthy · X-rated · explicit
titillating
Pleasurably stimulating, often sensually
curious · ogling · gawking · rubbernecking · leering · snooping · intrusive · nosy · tabloid · scandalmongering
forbidden
Not allowed
depraved · corrupt · impure · sinful · unwholesome · perverse · deviant · transgressive · unmentionable · inappropriate
- disgustdisgust, disgusting, disgusted, revulsion, repulsion
- risquerisque, racy, bawdy, ribald, suggestive
prurientdecent
Acceptably good
virtuous · modest · proper · demure · respectable
prurientprudish
Excessively concerned with propriety
puritanical · prim · priggish · strait-laced · repressed