guilty pleasure

noun

: something pleasurable that induces a usually minor feeling of guilt

Examples of guilty pleasure in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Fast food became a guilty pleasure, not a family milestone. Dev Patnaik, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025 Watching it for the first time, I am struck by the irreconcilable tension between what the programme purports to be — a guilty pleasure with a wise-cracking narrator inviting us all to watch on with an air of disdain and superiority — and the heaviness at each turn. Katie Whyatt, New York Times, 12 July 2025 Both of these handiwork hobbies are ideal for those looking for a mindless activity to enjoy while watching their favorite guilty pleasure show. Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 June 2025 Air conditioning is one of our great guilty pleasures. Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 25 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for guilty pleasure

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined above

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

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Cite this Entry

“Guilty pleasure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guilty%20pleasure. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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