1
as in joys
a source of great satisfaction
the new car is a real pleasure to drive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in delights
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
as in pleases
to give satisfaction to
a wine that is sure to pleasure even the most discriminating palate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pleasures
Andréa Morris, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
As Ariane Cruz notes in The Color of Kink, many people find pleasures and healing in kink.
—Literary Hub, 17 June 2026
Instead, pleasures are always braided.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026
Despite her lofty ambitions, the avant-pop singer is at her most compelling when grounded in the earthly pleasures of four-to-the-floor beats and straightforward, theatrical hooks.
—Alex Robert Ross, Pitchfork, 15 June 2026
But political movements that reject the mysterious pleasures of artifice are only doing themselves a disservice by excluding those who otherwise would be ideologically aligned with them.
—Eileen G'sell, The Conversation, 8 June 2026
Certainly, when Richmond later summed up life’s points and pleasures in a memo to his nephew, there was not a single piety among them.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
Ambition, creativity, a willingness to risk and above all to open up our hearts and minds to life’s great truths and pleasures matter far more.
—Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 7 June 2026
Here, the pleasures are small but meaningful.
—Hannah Howard, Travel + Leisure, 7 June 2026
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Noun
The colors, pains, pleasures, smells, tastes and sounds, the what-it’s-like of being conscious, are not private inner bits and blobs that philosophers call qualia, floating in a theatre of the mind.
—Andréa Morris, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
As Ariane Cruz notes in The Color of Kink, many people find pleasures and healing in kink.
—Literary Hub, 17 June 2026
Instead, pleasures are always braided.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026
Despite her lofty ambitions, the avant-pop singer is at her most compelling when grounded in the earthly pleasures of four-to-the-floor beats and straightforward, theatrical hooks.
—Alex Robert Ross, Pitchfork, 15 June 2026
But political movements that reject the mysterious pleasures of artifice are only doing themselves a disservice by excluding those who otherwise would be ideologically aligned with them.
—Eileen G'sell, The Conversation, 8 June 2026
Certainly, when Richmond later summed up life’s points and pleasures in a memo to his nephew, there was not a single piety among them.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
Ambition, creativity, a willingness to risk and above all to open up our hearts and minds to life’s great truths and pleasures matter far more.
—Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 7 June 2026
Here, the pleasures are small but meaningful.
—Hannah Howard, Travel + Leisure, 7 June 2026
Verb
In one especially heated sequence, Catherine, overcome with lust, dashes off to the moors and pleasures herself ferociously against the rocks.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pleasures
Noun
-
Reporting assignments can often lead to unexpected joys and lessons.—
Ava Berger,
NPR,
13 June 2026
-
His adoption rides are helping open other minds to the joys of pet adoption, too.—
Jen Reeder,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
We’re surrounded by sensory delights, and a new book argues that being more attuned to them could be a balm for digital exhaustion.—
Patricia Marx,
New Yorker,
17 June 2026
-
The psychologists, economists, and happiness advocates have saddled the rest of us with an impoverished and incomplete picture of gratification and its distinctive delights.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Coastal decor darling Serena & Lily brings you the Pacifica modular collection to suit any configuration that pleases you.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
28 May 2026
-
For something more substantial, Ramsey’s pleases both vegetarians and meat eaters with options such as BBQ brisket sandwich with homemade onion straws or Zucchini Noodle Thai Bowl.—
Sarah Miller,
Midwest Living,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Among the New Wave of American filmmakers in the mid-’70s, Spielberg and his friend George Lucas stood out as directors with ambitions to make old-fashioned popular entertainments.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 June 2026
-
Often, producers of these entertainments answer that question through music.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
5 June 2026
Verb
-
Current production satisfies less than one percent of global demand.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
15 June 2026
-
That setup no longer satisfies the authority’s emissions requirements.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
Weird neighbors and increasingly bizarre diversions plague every attempt Nameless Hero makes to get down the stairs of his building to the man who’s standing outside.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
14 June 2026
-
The Ritz Kids program offers fun diversions for children, including a popular Kids Night Out program in which children can have dinner, watch a movie, and play games while parents enjoy a child-free evening.—
Allison Tibaldi,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Well, Sydney feasts a little bit at the end.—
Claire Messud,
Vogue,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Blending intimate personal moments with recreations of some of his most memorable performances, Michael gives audiences an unprecedented look at the artist behind the music.—
Lily Brown,
PEOPLE,
9 June 2026
-
The opening credits have also led to some viral social media recreations.—
Carolyn Burt,
Oc Register,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pleasures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pleasures. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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