titillating

/ˈtɪtəˌleɪtɪŋ/

Other forms: titillatingly

When something is titillating, it makes you feel thrilled or excited. For your book report, your English teacher will probably make you read a serious novel rather than a titillating romance.

The adjective titillating implies a certain cheap or fleeting kind of excitement. Titillating things are unimportant and entertaining—maybe even a little bit lewd. The word comes from the Latin word titillationem, "a tickling," and its root titillare, " to tickle," which imitates the sound of giggling.

Definitions of titillating

1. adjective

   pleasantly and superficially exciting
   synonyms:

   exciting

   creating or arousing excitement
2. adjective

   giving sexual pleasure; sexually arousing
   synonyms: erotic

   sexy

   marked by or tending to arouse sexual desire or interest
3. adjective

   exciting by touching lightly so as to cause laughter or twitching movements
   synonyms: tickling, tingling

   exciting

   creating or arousing excitement