noun
hedonist
HED-un-ist/ˈhedənɪst/
A person whose main aim is to seek pleasure.
As a hedonist, he puts pleasure ahead of work and duty.
Etymology
The pleasure root combines with a suffix marking a doctrine's follower. A hedonist therefore treats pleasure as the highest good, rather than simply being someone who enjoys pleasant experiences.
In context
He did not flinch from describing himself as a hedonist who measured the value of his life by how much pleasure it could give him. He became a monk, he wrote, not to deny himself pleasure, but to increase it.
More examples
- She calls herself a hedonist because enjoyment guides her choices.
- The two hedonists spend their savings on whatever delights them.
- Even a devoted hedonist sometimes has to do the dishes.
Forms
hedonist · hedonists
hedonism noun — The belief that pleasure is life's chief aim.
hedonistic adjective — Focused on seeking pleasure above other goals.
Similar words
- pleasure seeker
- Need not make pleasure the central purpose of life.
- sensualist
- Emphasizes physical and sensory pleasures rather than pleasure generally.