hedonism means the philosophical belief that prioritizes happiness, particularly sensual pleasure as the highest good in life. It carries an Arena rating of 1483, earned across 4 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, hedonism ranks #1,182 of 17,127 for Words That Escaped Their Books, #1,970 of 17,134 for Most Malleable Words, #2,669 of 17,104 for Most Storied Words, #2,704 of 17,138 for Most Incisive Words.
hedonism is pronounced /ˈhɛdənɪzəm/.
Why “hedonism” is a great word
The ethical doctrine or personal practice that regards pleasure, especially of the senses, as the highest good and proper aim of human life. From the Ancient Greek ἡδονή (hēdonē, "pleasure") + the suffix -ism, denoting a system or doctrine; first recorded in English use in 1855–60. Unlike asceticism, which seeks virtue through renunciation, or eudaimonism, which defines the good life as one of flourishing and virtue, hedonism is a simpler, more immediate creed. It is the taste of a perfect peach in high summer, the first bite of a ripe fig bursting on the tongue, and the temporary, total silence of a sated mind—a philosophy that finds eternity not in endurance, but in moments that refuse to be diluted by memory or meaning, knowing that to feel deeply is not frivolous, but fundamental.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek ἡδονή (hēdonḗ, “pleasure”) + English -ism. First attested in 1856.
noun
- The philosophical belief that prioritizes happiness, particularly sensual pleasure as the highest good in life.
- A general devotion to the pursuit of pleasure.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.
- hedonium 72% match — Matter arranged in a way that produces pleasure or happiness as efficiently as possible, as might be encouraged by philosophical hedonism. vs hedonism →
- hedonics 70% match — The ethical study of pleasure vs hedonism →
- epicureanism 70% match — The philosophical belief that pleasure is the highest good, particularly as advocated by Epicurus with a focus on mental pleasures and on avoidance of pain (ataraxia) through moderation and common virtue. vs hedonism →
- eudaemonism 68% match — A philosophical notion, or system of ethics, which measures happiness in relation to morality. vs hedonism →
- hedon 66% match — A unit of pleasure used to theoretically weigh people's happiness. vs hedonism →
- hedonophobia 63% match — An irrational fear of pleasure or joy, especially engaging in pleasurable or joyful activities while others are experiencing depression, illness, pain, economic hardship, or other grief. vs hedonism →
- apolaustics 62% match — The philosophy of the pleasurable. vs hedonism →
- eudaimonia 62% match — In Aristotelian ethics, a condition of living a life of the highest virtue; the state of human flourishing, which is desirable in and of itself, rather than as a means towards some other end. vs hedonism →