guilty pleasure

noun

: something pleasurable that induces a usually minor feeling of guilt

Examples of guilty pleasure in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Apple has provided some guilty pleasure companion reading for fans of Vince Gilligan‘s new apocalyptic drama Pluribus, full of proud, haughty pirates corsairs and Mandovian spicefruit. Glenn Garner, Deadline, 14 Nov. 2025 At the dawn of the ’90s, Rumours was widely viewed as a relic of soft-rock excess, while Fleetwood Mac themselves were regarded as little more than a guilty pleasure. Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 12 Nov. 2025 Cherry’s guilty pleasure food wise are sweets. Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 8 Nov. 2025 Seafood isn’t a guilty pleasure. Amanda Leland, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for guilty pleasure

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of guilty pleasure was in 1907

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Cite this Entry

“Guilty pleasure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guilty%20pleasure. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.

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