titillating

/ˈtɪt.ɪ.leɪ.tɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · [tˈɪtəlˌetɪŋ] /ˈtɪt̬.əl.eɪ.t̬ɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · [tˈɪtəlˌetɪŋ] /ˈti-tə-ˌlā-tiŋ How to pronounce titillating (audio)/ (ame, mw)

titillating — adjective

  • titillatingpositive
  • more titillatingcomparative
  • most titillatingsuperlative

1. mildly sexually suggestive or exciting in a playful, teasing way — not serious o

1.形容詞C1
釋義

mildly sexually suggestive or exciting in a playful, teasing way — not serious or explicit

例句

Quinn rolled her eyes at the titillating headlines on the gossip magazine's front cover.

collocation: titillating headlines

The movie poster showed a titillating image that made parents in the queue uncomfortable.

同義詞
  • provocative

    more direct and challenging; can be confrontational, not just playful

  • suggestive

    less intense; merely hints at something sexual without the teasing quality

  • risqué

    slightly old-fashioned; emphasises daring to cross social boundaries of taste

  • racy

    informal; used almost exclusively for writing, films, or jokes with sexual content

反義詞
  • tame

    lacking any element of excitement or daring

  • innocent

    free from any sexual suggestion whatsoever

用法筆記

Almost always describes media or creative content — images, films, writing, advertisements — rather than people or physical acts directly.

常見錯誤

❌The film contained titillating sex scenes that left nothing to the imagination.
✅The film had titillating dialogue that hinted at romance without showing anything.
💡titillating implies suggestion and playfulness, not graphic explicitness.

2. fascinating because it is slightly scandalous or improper — holding your attenti

2.形容詞C1
釋義

fascinating because it is slightly scandalous or improper — holding your attention by crossing a social boundary

例句

Mizuki shared a titillating rumour about the company's CEO with her coworker during lunch.

collocation: titillating rumour

The documentary revealed titillating details about the politician's hidden offshore accounts.

同義詞
  • sensational

    more dramatic and attention-grabbing; often used for news that deliberately exaggerates

  • scandalous

    more serious and judgmental; implies moral outrage rather than playful curiosity

  • juicy

    informal; used almost exclusively for gossip or personal secrets

反義詞
  • mundane

    ordinary and unexciting; nothing remotely improper about it

  • tedious

    dull and boring rather than gripping

用法筆記

Describes information that feels slightly forbidden or private — gossip, secrets, scandals. The reader or listener is drawn in by mild shock rather than by the importance of the news.

常見錯誤

❌The lecture on tax law was surprisingly titillating.
✅The lecture on tax law was surprisingly interesting.
💡titillating requires an element of the improper or scandalous; it is not a synonym for 'fascinating' or 'gripping.'

3. giving a light, pleasant feeling of excitement or stimulation without being deep

3.形容詞C1
釋義

giving a light, pleasant feeling of excitement or stimulation without being deep or meaningful

例句

Pim found the art exhibit titillating — each room offered a new colour, sound, or texture.

The chef's tasting menu was titillating, with surprising flavours hidden inside every course.

collocation: titillating + sensory experience (food/art/music)

同義詞
  • tantalizing

    stronger; implies something desirable is just out of reach, creating frustration as well as excitement

  • enticing

    more inviting and welcoming; focuses on drawing someone in rather than on the sensation itself

  • intriguing

    more intellectual; arouses curiosity rather than sensory pleasure

反義詞
  • dull

    lacking any stimulating quality

  • tedious

    so uninteresting that it feels tiresome

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 (SEXUALLY SUGGESTIVE): this sense has no sexual meaning. It describes anything that lightly stimulates the senses, curiosity, or interest — food, art, celebrity gossip, behind-the-scenes content. The excitement is real but superficial.