pleasure 1 of 2

noun

ˈple-zhər How to pronounce pleasure (audio)
Definition of pleasurenext
1
as in enjoyment
the feeling experienced when one's wishes are met nothing gives me more pleasure than a hot meal after a long day

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in joy
a source of great satisfaction the new car is a real pleasure to drive

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3
as in delight
someone or something that provides amusement or enjoyment a good-humored girl who's a pleasure to be around

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pleasure

2 of 2

verb

as in to delight
to give satisfaction to a wine that is sure to pleasure even the most discriminating palate

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of pleasure
Noun
Solms also makes a credible claim that Freud was right in speaking about a subconscious drive to seek pleasure. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 19 Aug. 2026 Only 38% read a novel or short story, while reading for pleasure has dropped dramatically. — Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
The suspect was also seen exposing and pleasuring himself in a nearby parking lot, according to BSO. — Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026 Sophie has spent so long this season being a role of service, and for Benedict to now be washing her hair and then pleasuring her felt like a really nice switcheroo that Sophie deeply deserved. — Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pleasure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pleasure
  1. enjoyment
  2. joy
  3. delight
  4. please
  5. contentment
  6. entertainment
  7. satisfy
  8. satisfaction
Noun
  • In 2028, American Airlines will upgrade many of its smaller Airbus and Boeing jets, adding 4K screens with Bluetooth audio to seatbacks for passengers' enjoyment.
    — Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Evans said Collinson’s research indicates that the ability to rest and decompress at the beginning of a journey can influence the enjoyment that follows.
    — Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of enjoyment
Noun
  • For many, Menorca, one of Spain’s Balearic Islands, is synonymous with summer which makes Son Ermità like the thrill of the first dip in the sea in the morning or the joy of the last swim at dusk.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Offer one useful idea, keep the plan simple, and save space for joy too.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of joy
Noun
  • But that misses the delight Arzner took in her stars and in the backlot drama of the studios.
    — Anne E. Fernald, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Here again, in this slim book, the narrative unfolds in fragments, every sentence drawing you deeper into the delights of language.
    — Amitava Kumar, New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of delight
Verb
  • That’s why this list includes both heavy, high fill powers and light inserts that will please even the hottest sleepers.
    — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Wrestlers having legitimate issues backstage has led to multiple feuds that people-pleasing AEW President Tony Khan could not control.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of please
Noun
  • Being alone and posting about her journey ultimately helped Hoadley find contentment in her life.
    — Amen Galinato, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Ogwumike in the interview also expressed contentment with the state of women’s basketball.
    — Doug Feinberg, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of contentment
Noun
  • Except that’s how the entertainment business works these days, and those deals did pay them millions (the Netflix production deal was reported to be in the $100-million range).
    — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • There is a popular misconception that home entertainment has steadily diminished theatrical exhibition.
    — Cory Jacobson, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of entertainment
Verb
  • Spurred by tech giants’ insatiable appetite for computing power to dominate frontier models, the unprecedented global expansion of AI infrastructure has created demand so enormous that no single country can satisfy it.
    — John Liu, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The bottom line Creditors may ultimately be paid from the value of a deceased person's home in certain circumstances, and an estate may need to sell the property if there aren't enough other assets to satisfy valid claims.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of satisfy
Noun
  • United are closing in on a signing that looks set to lift their summer business to a status of satisfaction.
    — Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The study, based on 2,991 travelers, found that while many use lounges to escape crowds, severe overcrowding drastically reduces satisfaction.
    — Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of satisfaction

Browse Nearby Words

pleasurably
pleasure
pleasured
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Cite this Entry

“Pleasure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pleasure. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pleasure

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pleasure

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