Sybaritism is a noun referring to the pursuit of or indulgence in luxurious, sensual or self-indulgent pleasures. It originates from the ancient Greek city of Sybaris, which was known for its inhabitants' excessive and hedonistic lifestyle.
With a negative connotation, sybaritism describes a person's devotion to the pursuit of physical pleasures and luxuries, often at the expense of other values such as simplicity or moderation. A sybarite, the person who practices sybaritism, is typically associated with opulence, extravagance, and a superficial enjoyment of life's pleasures.
Sybaritism often involves a relentless quest for sensory gratification, the preference for overindulgent or lavish experiences, and the continuous pursuit of material possessions. This pursuit may include indulging in rich and expensive foods, wines, and other culinary delights, frequenting luxurious spas, resorts, or expensive fashion brands, collecting rare and expensive artifacts, and generally seeking out the highest quality, most extraordinary and pleasurable experiences.
The term is also commonly used to describe a person who lacks self-discipline or restraint, prioritizing personal desires and immediate gratification above anything else. Sybaritism is often seen as excessive or wasteful, lacking in depth or substance, and focused solely on the satisfaction of one's own immediate desires.
Overall, sybaritism refers to the pursuit of luxurious and sensual pleasures, often to an excessive or self-indulgent degree, while disregarding more moderate or restrained values.
