Cyrenaicism

C3Y4R1E1N1A1I1C3I1S1M3
/ˈsaɪriˌneɪəsɪzm//ˈkaɪrəˌneɪəsɪzm/

proper noun

Synonym of hedonism, particularly (ethics, chiefly historical) the specific beliefs of the philosophical school of Aristippus of Cyrene, advocating pursuit of sensual pleasure as the highest good.

Similar
hedonismparticularly
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Meanings

proper noun
  1. derogatoryusuallySynonym of hedonism, particularly (ethics, chiefly historical) the specific beliefs of the philosophical school of Aristippus of Cyrene, advocating pursuit of sensual pleasure as the highest good.

    This reads like an avowal of Epicureanism or of the more selfish philosophy of pleasure known as Cyrenaicism.

    1882 August, Contemporary Review, p. 214

    Synonyms: hedonism, particularly

Synonyms & antonyms

proper nounSynonym of hedonism, particularly (ethics, chiefly historical) the specific beliefs of the philosophical school of Aristippus of Cyrene, advocating pursuit of sensual pleasure as the highest good.

Similar
hedonismparticularly
Also see
hedonism

Origin

From Cyrenaic + -ism, q.v.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Cyrenaicism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Cyrenaicism

MLA

“Cyrenaicism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Cyrenaicism. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Cyrenaicism,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Cyrenaicism.

Source: Cyrenaicism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.