sensual appetite

USAGE SUMMARY

"sensual appetite" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a strong, passionate physical desire or craving. For example, "The sight of her was enough to stir his sensual appetite."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Does it represent the realization of Buddhist asceticism, the triumph of spiritual detachment over sensual appetite?

The New York Times - Books

As in your story, Belle is said to have been quite a large woman, with a considerable sensual appetite, but she appeared to have had daughters, not sons.

The New Yorker

His description there of a kiss like the feel of "opened figs, wet at dead of night in a hothouse" gives a hint of his sensual appetite.

The New York Times - Books

His unlikely champion of guiltless pleasure is Thomas Hobbes, who, one is surprised to learn, was something of a sybarite and an idealist in the bedchamber — a lover who aspired "to please and to be pleased," and who considered lust not only "a sensual appetite" but a "joy of the mind".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

His characters inhabit a world of material desires and sensual appetites in which lust, greed, and ambition are the driving forces, and any higher feelings are either absent or doomed to cruel disappointment.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The papers give an extraordinary picture of an enlightened yet tormented man, a participant in the intellectual debates of his time who was often driven by sensual appetites and religious fears.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The concepts of premarital and extramarital sexual activities were absent, and it was probably true of Hawai'i, as it was said to have been true of much of Polynesia, that 'there are no people in the world who indulge themselves more in their sensual appetites than these.'.

Huffington Post

And I find it more than faintly offensive that women are told that greed, sensual pleasure and appetite are unladylike, unfeminine and unattractive.

The Guardian - Opinion

His fine, reverberating consciousness sets off a corresponding reverberation in the sympathetic reader, who can't help but admire the way Italy liberates an appetite for sensual experience in this most cerebral of authors.

The New York Times - Travel

Renoir revered this 16th-century Venetian as a sensual painter with a colossal appetite for life, velvet textures and dazzling perspectives.

The Guardian

It points to a sensual joy, based on an appetite that we have in common with animals, or "brutes" as Shaftesbury prefers to call them.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sensual appetite" when you want to convey a strong, often primal, desire for sensory or sexual experiences, especially when implying a lack of restraint or control.

Common error

While "sensual appetite" is grammatically correct, it carries a connotation of intense desire. Avoid using it in contexts where a more neutral term like "interest in sensory experiences" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sensual appetite" functions primarily as a noun phrase, describing a strong craving or desire related to sensory experiences. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and refers to a passionate physical desire.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sensual appetite" is a grammatically sound noun phrase that describes a strong craving for sensory and often sexual experiences. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is indeed correct and appropriate for use in written English. Though relatively rare in occurrence, it finds its primary contexts within news and media, as well as encyclopedic entries. When employing this phrase, it's best to consider the nuance of intense desire it conveys, ensuring it aligns with the intended tone and avoids potential misinterpretations in more formal settings. Related phrases like "desire for sensual experience" may offer a more nuanced alternative, depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

desire for sensual experience

Highlights the want or need for sensual exposure.

lustful desire

Adds a connotation of intense and often uncontrolled sexual craving.

physical desire

Replaces "appetite" with a more direct term for craving, focusing on the physical aspect.

carnal craving

Uses "carnal" to emphasize the bodily and instinctual nature of the desire.

sexual hunger

Emphasizes the intensity and need associated with the desire.

bodily craving

Highlights the physical and tangible aspect of the craving.

sensory longing

Shifts the focus to the broader range of senses beyond just the purely sexual.

appetite for pleasure

Broadens the scope to encompass all forms of pleasure, not just sexual.

passion for sensation

Focuses on the enthusiastic enjoyment and pursuit of sensory experiences.

zest for physical experience

Emphasizes the active and energetic engagement with physical sensations.

FAQs

How can I use "sensual appetite" in a sentence?

You can use "sensual appetite" to describe a strong desire for physical pleasure. For example: "The character's actions were driven by a powerful "sensual appetite"".

What's a more formal way to express "sensual appetite"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "desire for sensual experience" or "interest in sensory pleasures", which avoid the implication of uncontrolled craving.

Is "sensual appetite" only related to sexual desire?

While often associated with sexual desire, "sensual appetite" can also refer to a strong craving for other sensory experiences, such as the taste of food, the feel of textures, or the sight of beauty. The context determines the specific meaning.

What's the difference between "sensual appetite" and "sensual desire"?

"Sensual appetite" implies a stronger, more instinctual craving, akin to hunger, while "sensual desire" is a broader term that can encompass a wider range of feelings and motivations, not necessarily implying the same level of intensity or urgency.