hedonist

[ heed-n-ist ]

noun

1. a person whose life is devoted to the pursuit of pleasure and self-gratification.

adjective

1. Also he·don·is·tic []. of, relating to, or characteristic of a hedonist or hedonism.

Other Words From

• he·don·is·ti·cal·ly adverb
• non·he·do·nis·tic adjective
• non·he·do·nis·ti·cal·ly adverb
• un·he·do·nis·tic adjective
• un·he·do·nis·ti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of hedonist¹

First recorded in 1855–60; hedonism, -ist

Example Sentences

Grouchy and wary and tender, he’s a sozzled hedonist seemingly out for himself—though his party-animal facade is just a mask for his bottomless generosity.

From Time

His Bill isn’t a fratty hedonist so much as a man too psychologically compartmentalized to face his own misdeeds.

From Time

The old Don was a loving father and husband, and a hedonist.

From The Daily Beast

In Dornan's telling, Clinton was a "self-indulgent hedonist and phony," a dabbler in drugs, a letch.

From The Daily Beast

Reading that, the stranger would not necessarily (I hope) be transformed into a detrimental Hedonist.

From Project Gutenberg

The greatest poets, however, do not accept the point of view either of the extreme moralist or of the hedonist.

From Project Gutenberg

He is not what is called a social philosopher, a pretentious hedonist, who talks continuously and floridly about himself.

From Project Gutenberg

The restraints of Christians saddened him simply because he was more hedonist than a healthy man should be.

From Project Gutenberg

In an hedonist age pleasure has always sunk low, so that it has to be encouraged.

From Project Gutenberg