guilty pleasure

noun

: something pleasurable that induces a usually minor feeling of guilt

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web And my guilty pleasure: Selling Sunset. Jason Sheeler, Peoplemag, 31 Mar. 2023 What is your biggest guilty pleasure? Jasmine Washington, Seventeen, 23 Feb. 2023 Rather than seeing it as a guilty pleasure, frame those sessions as part of your training—no different than pre-run activation, post-run foam rolling, or the occasional massage. Outside Online, 15 Aug. 2019 Is that considered a guilty pleasure? Liza Lentini, SPIN, 31 Mar. 2023 Bono doesn't feel guilty about his guilty pleasure. Tracey Harrington Mccoy, Peoplemag, 17 Mar. 2023 This musical adaptation, with direction by Anna D. Shapiro and costumes by Arianne Phillips that look as if Miranda shops at a discount Saks Off 5th, at this point radiates none of the style or the outrageous entitlement that made the movie such a guilty pleasure. Peter Marks, Washington Post, 8 Aug. 2022 What’s your vital guilty pleasure? ELLE, 14 June 2022 What’s your guilty pleasure? Evan Nicole Brown, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'guilty pleasure.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near guilty pleasure

Cite this Entry

“Guilty pleasure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guilty%20pleasure. Accessed 28 May. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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