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.
In recent years, the American spinoff of the popular British series has turned into a pop culture phenomenon and has evolved from a casual guilty pleasure into a fully immersive group experience, sparking watch parties that rival Super Bowl gatherings across the country. Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 14 July 2025 Now in its seventh season here in the States and streaming on Peacock, the show has evolved beyond a guilty pleasure enjoyed alone to a full-on group activity. Cynthia Salinas Cappellano, CNN Money, 13 July 2025 By and large, most collectors are not going so off the deep end and being overly financially irresponsible, and instead see the hobby as a guilty pleasure. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 12 July 2025 Fast food became a guilty pleasure, not a family milestone. Dev Patnaik, Forbes.com, 21 July 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 5 Aug. 2025.

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