pleasurable

adjective

plea·​sur·​able ˈplezh-rə-bəl 

ˈplāzh-;

ˈple-zhə-,

ˈplā-

: causing a feeling of pleasure or enjoyment : pleasant

a pleasurable sensation

pleasurable emotions

the pleasurable effects of a drug

There aren't many more pleasurable activities than shaking your thing in the streets, surrounded by all the sights and sounds of the carnival.

—Time Out

The movie takes you away, and much of the trip is a pleasurable experience, with dazzling visuals, a bright score coupled with insanely catchy pop tunes, and a charismatic cast.

—Ed Johnson-Ott

pleasurability

ˌplezh-rə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

ˌplāzh-;

ˌple-zhə-

ˌplā-

noun

The right varietals and blends take spicy, umami and sweet Asian flavors to an entirely new level of pleasurability for guests …

—Mary Melton

pleasurableness

ˈplezh-rə-bəl-nəs 

ˈplāzh-;

ˈple-zhə-

ˈplā-

noun

… we can attest to the pleasurableness of the New England clam chowder …

—Frank Cohen

pleasurably

ˈplezh-rə-blē 

ˈplāzh-;

ˈple-zhə-

ˈplā-

adverb

Have you ever dug your feet into the warm, soft surface of a white sand beach? Felt the fine, dry grains slide pleasurably between your toes?

—Rafi Letzter

Synonyms

• agreeable
• blessed
• blest
• congenial
• darling
• delectable
• delicious
• delightful
• delightsome
• dreamy
• dulcet
• enjoyable
• felicitous
• good
• grateful
• gratifying
• heavenly
• jolly
• luscious
• nice
• palatable
• pleasant
• pleasing
• pretty
• satisfying
• savory
• savoury
• sweet
• tasty
• welcome

Examples of pleasurable in a Sentence

a pleasurable hot bath after a tiring day

a number of pleasurable additions to the state fair this year

Recent Examples on the Web

But come spring, the light pink and lavender blooms of Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) turn mundane highway commutes into pleasurable scenic drives. —Libby Monteith Minor, Southern Living, 20 Apr. 2025

Awl and zigzag hairs are also the targets of fine, slow-conducting neurons, which were once thought to evoke tickles but have since been implicated in pleasurable touch sensations. —Ariel Bleicher, Quanta Magazine, 16 Apr. 2025

So there’s a mutual agreement between the two, or mutual benefits, that are quite tolerable—or even pleasurable. —Mark Holgate, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2025

That the 14-1 Baeza, and not Citizen Bull, who ran fourth, would be the man Journalism had to beat in the last furlong was arguably the race’s bigger surprise, and that surprise was pleasurable for those clubby few who had backed or boxed him. —Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1557, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pleasurable

• measurable
• unmeasurable

Kids Definition

pleasurable

adjective

plea·​sur·​able ˈplezh-(ə-)rə-bəl 

ˈplāzh-

: pleasant sense 1

pleasurably

-blē 

adverb