adj
salacious
suh-LAY-shuhs
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.”
adj
1
Deliberately focused on sex in a way that feels crude, gossipy, or designed to titillate rather than inform.
"The tabloid ran a salacious story about the actor's divorce."
"His salacious remarks made several colleagues uncomfortable."
How to use salacious
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSexually crude or gossipy, often used to describe scandalous news stories or comments.
When to use it
Formal/journalistic word — almost always carries a disapproving tone.
Common pairings
salacious details
salacious gossip
salacious rumors
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more salacious
- Superlative
- most salacious
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
View more →Antonyms
Related words
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.
