hedonic

[ hee-don-ik ]

adjective

1. of, characterizing, or pertaining to pleasure:

   a hedonic thrill.

2. pertaining to hedonism or hedonics.

Other Words From

• he·doni·cal·ly adverb
• nonhe·donic adjective
• nonhe·doni·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of hedonic¹

First recorded in 1650–60; Greek hēdonikós “pleasurable,” from hēdon(ḗ) “pleasure” + -ikos -ic; sweet

Example Sentences

Two goals influence all kinds of decisions about what we eat—hedonic and utilitarian goals.

From Time

A reflection of our culture, marketing tends to emphasize the utilitarian rather than hedonic benefits of breakfast foods.

From Time

She explains that hedonic adaptation is why a new car is only a thrill for a little while.

From Time

They want customers to focus on the brand’s unique selling proposition and the functional and hedonic utilities they provide.

From Digiday

If not, you may be experiencing what psychologists call hedonic adaptation.

From The Daily Beast

Hedonic adaptation is just a fancy label for what we already know: we get used to things.

From The Daily Beast

Some have suggested that adaptation creates what might be called a hedonic treadmill.

From The Daily Beast

Our conduct must be judged wise or foolish according as, in the long-run, we find a favourable "hedonic" balance-sheet.

From Project Gutenberg

The hedonic cannot, according to them, pretend to universal validity, it cannot be normative.

From Project Gutenberg