exhibitionism
noun
ex·hi·bi·tion·ism
| \ ˌek-sə-ˈbi-shə-ˌni-zəm
\
\
Definition of exhibitionism
1a
: a perversion in which sexual gratification is obtained from the indecent exposure of one's genitals (as to a stranger)
b
: an act of such exposure
2
: the act or practice of behaving so as to attract attention to oneself
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Other Words from exhibitionism
exhibitionist
\ ˌek-sə-ˈbish-nist
, -ˈbi-shə- \
noun or adjective
, -ˈbi-shə- \
noun or adjective
exhibitionistic
\ ˌek-sə-ˌbi-shə-ˈni-stik
\
adjective
\
adjective
exhibitionistically
\ ˌek-sə-ˌbi-shə-ˈni-sti-k(ə-)lē
\
adverb
\
adverb
Examples of exhibitionism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Wearing the flashy, sporty clothes of a barroom bantam (Alice Tavener did the costumes), Mr. Battiste finds the cancerous, painful insecurity within Walter’s strutting exhibitionism. — Ben Brantley, New York Times, "Review: ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ Burns With New Fire," 1 July 2019 Somewhere beyond exhibitionism and voyeurism—in the oceans beyond the bikinis and sunglasses—Instagram hints at the possibility of real intimacy with landscapes and humans. — Collier Meyerson, WIRED, "Instagram Is Sweet and Sort of Boring—but the Ads!," 24 June 2019 Her exhibitionism and honesty seem entirely normal for a now-adult Disney star trying to shed the suffocating image of a chirpy teenager. — Robin Abcarian, latimes.com, "Bella Thorne’s stolen nude selfies spark a debate about blame and slut-shaming," 21 June 2019 The drag queens and gender-nonbinary youth at such events can appear preoccupied with their own ecstatic exhibitionism. — Andrew Solomon, New York Times, "The First New York Pride March Was an Act of ‘Desperate Courage’," 27 June 2019 The film begins with diversion — a triangle involving Juan’s teenage son — and moves on to Juan’s voyeurism, encouraging Esther to fornication and exhibitionism. — Armond White, National Review, "Franco Zeffirelli: Unlikely Conservative Hero," 20 June 2019 The third episode focuses more on Kat, whose relationship to the internet is legitimately complicated, evolving between hermetic terror and righteous exhibitionism. — Darren Franich, EW.com, "HBO's teen shock-soap Euphoria is sweeter than you think: EW review," 14 June 2019 This cycle of mimetic exhibitionism holds even for metaphysical things like moral values, which in a world colonized by capitalism have become a wearable commodity. — Susan Crawford, WIRED, "Mark Zuckerberg Plays the Scapegoat for Our Facebook Sins," 17 Apr. 2018 With this kind of exhibitionism, de Waart had nothing to do. — Marcus Overton, sandiegouniontribune.com, "A master at work: Edo de Waart makes Mahlerian magic with San Diego Symphony," 10 Mar. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'exhibitionism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for exhibitionism
exhibitionism
noun
English Language Learners Definition of exhibitionism
disapproving
: behavior that is meant to attract attention to yourself
See the full definition for exhibitionism in the English Language Learners Dictionary
exhibitionism
noun
ex·hi·bi·tion·ism
| \ ˌek-sə-ˈbish-ə-niz-əm
\
\
Medical Definition of exhibitionism
1a
: a perversion marked by a tendency to indecent exposure
b
: an act of such exposure
2
: the act or practice of behaving so as to attract attention to oneself