3 syllables: Hed, on, ist. Stress on Hed.
HED-uh-nist
/ˈhɛdənɪst/
Hedonist is pronounced HED-uh-nist (/ˈhɛdənɪst/). It has three syllables (Hed-on-ist), with the stress on "Hed". A hedonist is a person who pursues pleasure as the primary aim of life, often emphasizing sensory gratification, enjoyment, and self-indulgence. The term can carry pejorative or neutral connotations depending on context, and may describe a philosophical stance or lifestyle choice rather than a formal profession. The word implies a focus on immediate or personal pleasure rather than moral duties.
nounA hedonist is a person who pursues pleasure as the primary aim of life, often emphasizing sensory gratification, enjoyment, and self-indulgence. The term can carry pejorative or neutral connotations depending on context, and may describe a philosophical stance or lifestyle choice rather than a formal profession. The word implies a focus on immediate or personal pleasure rather than moral duties.
How to Pronounce Hedonist
"The hedonist lifestyle often prioritizes leisure and comfort over traditional responsibilities."
"Some critics argue that excessive hedonism can undermine long-term well-being."
"In the novel, the aristocrat is portrayed as a carefree hedonist, seeking vivid experiences."
Hedonist is pronounced /ˈhɛd.əˌnɪst/ in US and UK. Primary stress falls on the first syllable, with a secondary stress on the third syllable, yielding HEH-duh-nist. Start with a breathy /h/, then a short /ɛ/ as in “red,” followed by a light /d/ release, a schwa or reduced /ə/ in the second syllable, and finally /nɪst/ where /ɪ/ is a short i as in “sit.” The sequence should be smooth; avoid a heavy vowel in the second syllable. For audio reference, listen to natural speech in pronunciation platforms and repeat slowly at first.”,
Common errors include: 1) treating the second syllable as a full vowel rather than a schwa, making it “HEH-duh-NIST” instead of HEH-duh-nist; 2) misplacing the /d/ and blending the /d/ with the following /n/, producing a merged sound; 3) mispronouncing /hɛd/ with a lax /e/ or an unreleased /t/. Correct by ensuring a clear /d/ release before the schwa, then a distinct /n/ before /ɪst/. Practice by saying each syllable slowly: /ˈhɛd.ə.nɪst/ and gradually speed up while keeping segments distinct.”,
In US/UK/AU, /ˈhɛd.əˌnɪst/ remains similar, but rhoticity affects the vowel quality before /r/ in related words; hed/ no rhotics here. UK tends to crisper /t/ release and a slightly shorter /ə/; US often has a slightly wider /ɛ/ and a more pronounced /ɪ/ in /nɪst/. Australian tends toward a closer front vowel /ɪ/ and a more centralized schwa /ə/ depending on surrounding vowels. The primary stress pattern remains the same across accents. Listening to native speakers and using IPA transcriptions helps adapt regionally.”,
The difficulty lies in balancing the stress pattern and the mid-to-high vowel sequence. The first syllable requires a crisp /h/ and a clear /ɛ/ before a rapid /d/ release. The middle syllable uses a reduced /ə/ that should not glide into a strong vowel; this unaccented schwa often gets pronounced as a full vowel by learners. Then the final /nɪst/ demands precise consonant timing so /n/ does not blend with /ɪ/ and /st/. Mastery comes from slow practice of /ˈhɛd.ə.nɪst/ with steady tempo.”,
A notable feature is the three-syllable rhythm with primary stress on the first syllable: HEH-duh-nist. The middle syllable is weakly stressed, often realized as a schwa, which can be challenging for learners who anticipate even stress across all syllables. Additionally, the /d/ is a clearly released stop before the /n/, not a nasal blend, and the final /st/ should be a clean cluster rather than an aspirated or slurred sound. Focusing on the three distinct syllables helps anchor pronunciation.
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Hedonist comes from Greek hêdonê, meaning pleasure, and -ist, a suffix denoting a person who practices or is concerned with something. The term derives from the philosophical school of hedonism associated with ancient Greek thinkers such as Aristippus of Cyrene and later Epicurus. In classical Greece, hedonism described a precise, sometimes controversial, ethical doctrine that pleasure is the highest good. The word in English adopted the -ist agent noun to denote a person who pursues or advocates a system. Early English usage appeared in moral and philosophical discussions from the 17th century onward, but popularized in modern times to refer to lifestyle preferences more broadly. In contemporary discourse, “hedonist” can apply to both explicitly philosophical arguments and casual labels for those who seek enjoyment as a central life aim. The shift from formal philosophical usage to everyday slang reflects broader cultural conversations about pleasure, self-indulgence, and personal autonomy. While some contexts valorize hedonism as personal freedom, others critique it as frivolous or self-centered, influencing how the term is perceived in different social spheres.
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Words that rhyme with "Hedonist"
-ist sounds
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