Definition of sensuousnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word sensuous distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of sensuous are luxurious, sensual, and voluptuous. While all these words mean "relating to or providing pleasure through gratification of the senses," sensuous implies gratification of the senses for the sake of aesthetic pleasure.

the sensuous delights of great music

When is it sensible to use luxurious instead of sensuous?

While in some cases nearly identical to sensuous, luxurious suggests the indulgence of sensuous pleasure inducing bodily ease and languor.

a luxurious hotel

When can sensual be used instead of sensuous?

Although the words sensual and sensuous have much in common, sensual tends to imply the gratification of the senses or the indulgence of the physical appetites as ends in themselves.

a life devoted to sensual pleasures

Where would voluptuous be a reasonable alternative to sensuous?

While the synonyms voluptuous and sensuous are close in meaning, voluptuous implies more strongly an abandonment especially to sensual pleasure.

a voluptuous feast

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sensuous All reward deep listening, elements subtly shifting underfoot in an alert yet sensuous way. Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026 Meanwhile, her sensuous younger sister Olga and Olga’s fiancé, Lensky, are soon caught in the crosshairs of Eugene and Tatiana’s tension, with murderous results. Rachel Howard, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Jan. 2026 The dance party held at the Vermont and organized by Club 90s, channels the sensuous vacation-from-reality energy adored by fans of the TV show, and the book series it’s based on, that premiered in November and became a breakout hit for HBO Max. Martine Thompson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2026 The latest Wuthering Heights trailer appears to be a slight corrective to (or maybe, more accurately, an expansion of) the previous one, which emphasized the symbolic, sensuous, slimy, psychosexual elements of Fennell’s adaptation of Emily Brontë’s novel. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sensuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sensuous
Adjective
  • In the future, similar electronic skin could allow prosthetic users to feel pressure, temperature, and humidity, bringing artificial limbs closer to natural sensory function.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 24 Apr. 2026
  • If the trajectory continues, expect to see brands and creators alike lean further into storytelling, sensory experiences and products whose purpose is to spark joy in the coming months.
    Casey DelBasso, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • From cheeky shots of celebrities like Jane Fonda and Arnold Schwarzenegger to extravagant, sensual portfolios of America’s Olympic squads, the magazine’s pantheon of photographers have helped to define the genre of sports portraiture.
    Jonathan Pace, Vanity Fair, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Here, the sado-sensual yearning of the Confederacy to instantiate itself through the fetishes and reliquaries of figurative sculpture is shown as hollow, impotent, all too discomfiting, and very real.
    Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The bright space includes two treatment rooms, a steam room, sauna, salt relaxation room, sensorial shower, and a Sisley retail shop.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Unleash your plumpest pout with transformative textures, sensorial experiences and cruelty-free formulas.
    Tory Johnson, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sensuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sensuous. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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