Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having or showing excessive or offensive sexual desire: Describes a person, their behavior, or their expression as being characterized by strong, often crude or unpleasant, sexual interest.

Usage

• The word "lecherous" is used to describe someone (typically a man) who behaves in a way that shows an excessive, often predatory or unwelcome, sexual interest in others. It carries a strong negative connotation of being lustful, lascivious, and lacking in restraint or respect.
• It can describe a person's character, their specific actions, or even their facial expression (e.g., a look or a smile).

Examples

• Adjective:
  • The villain in the story was portrayed as a lecherous old man.
  • He was fired for making lecherous comments to his coworkers.
  • She felt uncomfortable under his lecherous gaze.

Advanced Usage

• "Lecherous intent": Indicates that someone's actions or looks are driven by inappropriate sexual desire.
  • The security guard was accused of following women with lecherous intent.
• Describing abstract qualities:
  • The film was criticized for its lecherous portrayal of the female characters.

Variants and Related Words

• Lecher (noun): A man who is lecherous.
  • He gained a reputation as a lecher.
• Lecherously (adverb): In a lecherous manner.
  • He grinned lecherously.
• Lecherousness (noun): The quality or state of being lecherous.
  • His lecherousness was well known among his colleagues.

Synonyms

• Lascivious: Feeling or revealing an overt and often offensive sexual desire.
• Lewd: Crude and offensive in a sexual way.
• Lustful: Having or showing strong feelings of sexual desire.
• Libidinous: Having or characterized by lustful desires.
• Salacious: Having or conveying undue or inappropriate interest in sexual matters.

Antonyms

• Chaste: Abstaining from extramarital, or from all, sexual intercourse; not having any sexual nature or intention.
• Pure: Free of any contamination (moral or physical); not involving sexual activity or connotations.
• Decorous: In keeping with good taste and propriety; polite and restrained.

Idioms and Phrases

• "A lecherous old goat": A common, somewhat idiomatic insult for an older man perceived as being inappropriately sexual.
  • The retired professor was often described behind his back as a lecherous old goat.

Adjective

1. given to excessive indulgence in sexual activity
   • a lecherous gleam in his eye
   • a lecherous good-for-nothing