Phrase guide

hedonic treadmill

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The tendency of humans to quickly return to a relatively stable level of happiness (or sadness) despite major positive or negative events or life changes.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: hedonic adaptation

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: تَكَيُّف المُتْعَة (takayyuf al-mutʕa) — tendency of humans
  • Arabic: تَكَيُّف اللَذَّة (takayyuf al-laḏḏa) — tendency of humans
  • Chinese Mandarin: 享樂跑步機 /享乐跑步机 — tendency of humans
  • Finnish: hedoninen oravanpyörä — tendency of humans
  • German: hedonistische Tretmühle — tendency of humans
  • German: hedonistische Anpassung — tendency of humans
  • Russian: гедонисти́ческая адапта́ция (gedonistíčeskaja adaptácija) — tendency of humans
  • Russian: гедонисти́ческая бегова́я доро́жка (gedonistíčeskaja begovája doróžka) — tendency of humans