salacious
Salacious (adj) means Deliberately focused on sex in a way that feels crude, gossipy, or designed to titillate rather than inform. Example: “The tabloid ran a salacious story about the actor's divorce.”
How to use salacious
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSexually crude or gossipy, often used to describe scandalous news stories or comments.
Formal/journalistic word — almost always carries a disapproving tone.
Word forms
more salacious comparative, most salacious superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The tabloid ran a _____ story about the actor's divorce.
Etymology
From Latin salax, salacis, "lustful," originally describing animals eager to mate.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for salacious
See all rhymes for 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.