sexaholic: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, slang, potentially humorous or pejorative
Quick answer
What does “sexaholic” mean?
A person who has an excessive, compulsive, or uncontrollable desire for sexual activity.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who has an excessive, compulsive, or uncontrollable desire for sexual activity.
Informally, someone perceived as being obsessed with or constantly thinking about sex; a humorous or self-deprecating term for having a strong libido. Not a clinical diagnosis, but built on the model of terms like 'alcoholic' or 'workaholic'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is understood and used similarly in both varieties. No significant spelling or usage divergence.
Connotations
Equally informal and non-clinical in both regions. May be perceived as slightly more humorous or less harsh than 'sex addict'.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both, appearing primarily in informal contexts, tabloid media, or pop psychology discussions.
Grammar
How to Use “sexaholic” in a Sentence
[determiner] + sexaholic[adjective] + sexaholicbe + labelled/dubbed/called + a sexaholicVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sexaholic” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - not used as a verb.
American English
- N/A - not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A - not used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A - not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- His sexaholic behaviour was causing problems.
- She made a sexaholic comment.
American English
- He has these sexaholic tendencies.
- It was a sexaholic frenzy.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Extremely rare; would only appear in informal student discourse or in specific sociological/pop culture analysis, not clinical psychology.
Everyday
Used in casual conversation, often humorously or critically. More likely in storytelling or gossip.
Technical
Not a clinical term. Professionals use 'sex addict' or specific diagnostic criteria for compulsive sexual behaviour disorder.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sexaholic”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sexaholic”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sexaholic”
- Misspelling: 'sexoholic', 'sexaholick'.
- Using it in formal or clinical writing.
- Assuming it is a medically recognized condition.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not a clinical or diagnostic term in psychology or medicine. Professionals use terms like 'compulsive sexual behaviour disorder' or 'sex addiction' (though the latter is also debated).
Rarely. It is almost always used humorously, self-deprecatingly, or as a criticism. It implies a lack of control, which is generally viewed negatively.
'Nymphomaniac' is an outdated and gendered term historically used specifically for women. 'Sexaholic' is a more modern, informal blend word that can be applied to any gender, though it carries similar pejorative weight.
The stress is on the third syllable: sex-a-HOL-ic. The first part rhymes with 'pex', the '-aholic' part sounds like the end of 'alcoholic'.
A person who has an excessive, compulsive, or uncontrollable desire for sexual activity.
Sexaholic is usually informal, slang, potentially humorous or pejorative in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[He/She]'s a sexaholic, not a romantic.”
- “Fell off the wagon (used by analogy with addiction recovery).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'SEX' + 'AHOLIC' (like alcoholic). Someone who is addicted to sex instead of alcohol.
Conceptual Metaphor
SEXUAL DESIRE IS AN ADDICTION (A craving, a loss of control, needing a 'fix', requiring recovery).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most accurate description of 'sexaholic'?