anhedonia

noun

an·​he·​do·​nia ˌan-(ˌ)hē-ˈdō-nē-ə 

-nyə

: a psychological condition characterized by inability to experience pleasure in normally pleasurable acts

anhedonic

ˌan-(ˌ)hē-ˈdä-nik 

adjective

Examples of anhedonia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And a small group of patients reported experiencing something called anhedonia, nicknamed ozempic personality. — Tracy Smith, CBS News, 7 June 2026

My Year of Rest and Relaxation and its many imitators treat the instability and anhedonia of women as a source of self-deprecating comedy and little else. — Literary Hub, 28 May 2026

Cleveland Clinic describes anhedonia as the inability to experience joy or pleasure, often showing up as numbness or reduced interest in things once enjoyed. — Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026

She was prescribed oxycodone, and while on the medication, battled depression, anhedonia and suicidal ideation. — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from a- entry 2 + Greek hēdonē pleasure — more at hedonism

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for anhedonia

• aphonia
• chelonia
• cladonia
• colonia
• dystonia
• harmonia
• koinonia
• oogonia
• polonia
• sinfonia
• zirconia
• catatonia

Medical Definition

anhedonia

noun

an·​he·​do·​nia ˌan-hē-ˈdō-nē-ə 

: a psychological condition characterized by inability to experience pleasure in acts which normally produce it compare analgesia

anhedonic

-ˈdän-ik 

adjective

anhedonic noun