Word
lustful
Phoneticslust·ful, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɫəstfəɫ/
UK/lˈʌstfəl/
Definition
adj. feeling strong sexual desire for someone. You use it to describe looks, thoughts, or actions full of that desire.
adj. characterized by or expressing strong sexual desire. Often describes glances, thoughts, or intentions rather than affection.
Examples
“He gives her a lustful look across the room.”
“After months apart, they share a lustful glance that makes everyone else look away.”
“The novel portrays the king not as evil but as lustful, driven by desires that cloud his judgment and ruin his court.”
Examples
simple
“He gives her a lustful look across the room.”
contextual
“After months apart, they share a lustful glance that makes everyone else look away.”
complex
“The novel portrays the king not as evil but as lustful, driven by desires that cloud his judgment and ruin his court.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “lustful” in context.
Verb
01. appear lustful
“His smile appeared lustful and made her step back.”
verb + adj
02. become lustful
“After a few drinks, his gaze became lustful and intense.”
verb + adj
03. feel lustful
“He felt lustful whenever she walked into the room.”
verb + adj
04. look lustful
“In the photo, he looks lustful and slightly drunk.”
verb + adj
Adjective
05. frankly lustful
“Her frankly lustful description of the actor made her friends laugh.”
adv + adj
Noun
06. lustful gaze
“She ignored his lustful gaze and kept talking.”
adj + noun
07. lustful glance
“She caught his lustful glance across the crowded bar.”
adj + noun
08. lustful grin
“He flashed a lustful grin that made her blush.”
adj + noun
09. lustful stare
“He fixed her with a lustful stare she found creepy.”
adj + noun
10. cast a lustful glance
“He cast a lustful glance at the newcomer across the room.”
11. flash a lustful grin
“He flashed a lustful grin when she entered the bar.”
12. harbor lustful thoughts about
“He secretly harbored lustful thoughts about his colleague.”
Usage
Typically placed before the noun it modifies or after linking verbs like 'feel' or 'look'.
Etymology
From Middle English lustful, from Old English lustfull (“desirous, wishful”); equivalent to lust + -ful. Cognate with Dutch lustvol (“lustful, lusty”), German lustvoll (“pleasurable”), Swedish lustfyllt (“pleasurable”), Swedish lustfyllda (“lustful”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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