anhedonia

American  

[an-hee-doh-nee-uh] / ˌæn hiˈdoʊ ni ə /

noun

Psychology.

1. lack of pleasure or of the capacity to experience it.

   Severely depressed people often exhibit decreased interest in social interaction, disturbed concentration, and anhedonia.

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Other Word Forms

• anhedonic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of anhedonia

First recorded in 1895–1900; from Greek an- + hēdon(ḗ) “pleasure” + -ia; see origin at an- ¹, -ia

Explanation

Anhedonia is an inability to experience pleasure. Your friend who looks glum when everyone else is having the time of their lives may suffer from anhedonia. The French word anhédonie was coined by the psychologist Theodule Ribot in 1896 from the Greek prefix an, "not or without," added to hedone, "pleasure." If you never feel happy or enjoy anything, you might have anhedonia. This inability to feel pleasure is an actual psychiatric diagnosis which often goes along with another condition like a mood disorder or schizophrenia.

Example Sentences

The team is now working with geneticists to pinpoint genes that may contribute to musical anhedonia.

From Science Daily • Jan. 12, 2026

Individuals with musical anhedonia tend to score low in all five categories.

From Science Daily • Jan. 12, 2026

Depression also comes with anhedonia, or the inability to experience pleasure in activities or social situations that were once enjoyable.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 11, 2025

“My biggest symptom after that was extreme anhedonia, like a feeling of not being myself or getting pleasure from anything — almost not feeling human,” she said.

From Salon • Jun. 4, 2025

Prolonged seasickness will in most persons produce a temporary condition of anhedonia.

From Varieties of Religious Experience, a Study in Human Nature by James, William

Related Words

• grief
• misery
• sadness
• sorrow
• woe