pleasure principle
noun
: a tendency for individual behavior to be directed toward immediate satisfaction of instinctual drives and immediate relief from pain or discomfort
Examples of pleasure principle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Especially at this time of year, the pleasure principle holds true, even when it’s stretched as thin as the pastry around a loup en croûte.
—
Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2023
Taurus season is ready to reinvigorate your pleasure principle.
—USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2023
His life is dominated by the pleasure principle…at least until someone gets hurt.
—Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 12 Dec. 2022
The drivers—twinky teen-agers with thick accents and hard bodies—take us with them beyond the pleasure principle.
—The New Yorker, 22 Apr. 2020
At the other: Christopher Kane progressing his personal obsession with the pleasure principle of human sexuality, making clothes which haven’t been seen before.
—Sarah Mower, Vogue, 21 Feb. 2018
Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2023
Taurus season is ready to reinvigorate your pleasure principle.
—USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2023
His life is dominated by the pleasure principle…at least until someone gets hurt.
—Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 12 Dec. 2022
The drivers—twinky teen-agers with thick accents and hard bodies—take us with them beyond the pleasure principle.
—The New Yorker, 22 Apr. 2020
At the other: Christopher Kane progressing his personal obsession with the pleasure principle of human sexuality, making clothes which haven’t been seen before.
—Sarah Mower, Vogue, 21 Feb. 2018
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pleasure principle.' 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
1856, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of pleasure principle was
in 1856
Dictionary Entries Near pleasure principle
Cite this Entry
“Pleasure principle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pleasure%20principle. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Medical Definition
pleasure principle
noun
: a tendency for individual behavior to be directed toward immediate satisfaction of instinctual drives and immediate relief from pain or discomfort compare reality principle
More from Merriam-Webster on pleasure principle
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pleasure principle
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