salacious
9 synonyms and 1 antonym for salacious, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Deliberately focused on sex in a way that feels crude, gossipy, or designed to titillate rather than inform.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use salacious
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
salacious details
salacious gossip
salacious rumors
Formal/journalistic word — almost always carries a disapproving tone.
Etymology
From Latin salax, salacis, "lustful," originally describing animals eager to mate.
Full origin of salacious →Frequently asked questions
What does “salacious” mean?
The word “salacious” means deliberately focused on sex in a way that feels crude, gossipy, or designed to titillate rather than inform.
How do you pronounce “salacious”?
“Salacious” is pronounced suh-LAY-shuhs (/səˈleɪ.ʃəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “salacious” in a sentence?
Here is “salacious” used in a sentence: “The tabloid ran a salacious story about the actor's divorce.”
What is another word for “salacious”?
Words with a similar meaning to “salacious” include ardent, hot, dirty and lubricious.
What part of speech is “salacious”?
“Salacious” is an adjective.
Where does the word “salacious” come from?
The word “salacious” comes from Latin. From Latin salax, salacis, "lustful," originally describing animals eager to mate.
