What does sybaritic mean?
Sybaritic means characterized by luxury, pleasure, and self-indulgence. The word is most often used to describe a lifestyle, habits, or surroundings that are exceptionally comfortable or luxurious, and it frequently carries a negative suggestion of excess. A sybaritic meal may be elaborate and sumptuous; a sybaritic afternoon may involve prolonged idleness and indulgence. The term derives from the ancient Greek city of Sybaris, whose inhabitants were proverbial for their luxurious living. Because of that association, sybaritic is stronger and more judgmental than simply luxurious: it highlights not only material comfort but also the habits associated with pursuing pleasure without restraint. It is commonly used in formal writing, literary criticism, and descriptions of indulgent travel, dining, or leisure.
adjectiveCharacterized by luxury, pleasure, and self-indulgence, especially in a luxurious or dissolute way.
- Characterized by luxury, comfort, pleasure, or self-indulgence.
"The sybaritic resort offered private villas, gourmet dining, and an extensive spa."
"His sybaritic morning routine included breakfast delivered to his suite and a long massage."
"The novel criticizes the sybaritic lifestyle of the wealthy industrialists."
Sybaritic comes from Sybaris, an ancient Greek colony whose reputation for luxury became a lasting warning against excess.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sybaritic come from?
The word comes through Latin from Greek Sybaritikos, meaning “of or relating to Sybaris.” Sybaris was an ancient Greek colony in southern Italy whose inhabitants acquired a reputation for luxury and excessive comfort. The related English noun sybarite developed from the Greek inhabitants' name and has come to mean a person devoted to pleasure or luxury.
Related word forms
How sybaritic is actually used
Generally formal and literary. It usually implies excessive or morally questionable indulgence, although it can also describe an unusually luxurious setting or lifestyle.
Easily confused with sybaritic
Hedonistic describes a general emphasis on pleasure, whereas sybaritic more specifically evokes excessive luxury and self-indulgence.
Sibaritic is a misspelling of sybaritic; the standard form contains a y after the initial s.