Materialism
noun
A belief that material possessions and physical comfort are more important than spiritual values.
The excessive materialism of her parents bothered her.
Often appears as...
- extreme materialism
- excessive materialism
noun
The theory that nothing exists except matter and its movements and modifications.
Materialism is a form of philosophical monism which holds that matter is the fundamental substance in nature.
Often appears as...
- philosophical materialism
- dialectical materialism
Usage tips
Academic
noun
A belief that material possessions and physical comfort are more important than spiritual values.
The excessive materialism of her parents bothered her.
Often appears as...
- extreme materialism
- excessive materialism
noun
The theory that nothing exists except matter and its movements and modifications.
Materialism is a form of philosophical monism which holds that matter is the fundamental substance in nature.
Often appears as...
- philosophical materialism
- dialectical materialism
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Societal Focus
Materialism often hints at a culture obsessed with buying and owning things.
His materialism reflects the societal focus on wealth and possessions.
Pro Tip 2/3Personal Value
Using 'materialism' might imply a lack of spiritual or emotional depth in a person.
He showed his materialism by spending all his time shopping for luxury items.
Pro Tip 3/3Negative Connotation
Materialism usually has a negative meaning, suggesting excess and shallow values.
They criticized the materialism evident during the holiday shopping season.
Pro Tip 1/3Societal Focus
Materialism often hints at a culture obsessed with buying and owning things.
His materialism reflects the societal focus on wealth and possessions.
Pro Tip 2/3Personal Value
Using 'materialism' might imply a lack of spiritual or emotional depth in a person.
He showed his materialism by spending all his time shopping for luxury items.
Pro Tip 3/3Negative Connotation
Materialism usually has a negative meaning, suggesting excess and shallow values.
They criticized the materialism evident during the holiday shopping season.
Pro Tip 1/3Societal Focus
Materialism often hints at a culture obsessed with buying and owning things.
His materialism reflects the societal focus on wealth and possessions.
Pro Tip 2/3Personal Value
Using 'materialism' might imply a lack of spiritual or emotional depth in a person.
He showed his materialism by spending all his time shopping for luxury items.
Pro Tip 3/3Negative Connotation
Materialism usually has a negative meaning, suggesting excess and shallow values.
They criticized the materialism evident during the holiday shopping season.
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Video examples
The surprising science...
is is relatively small and one of the problems with money is materialism what happens when people pursue money to avidly is they forget about the real basic pleasures of life so we have here this couple do you think the less fortunate or having better sex but I'm this kid over here saying leave me alone
Video examples
Robert Thurman:...
And materialism, they think they get out of it just by not existing, by dying, but they don't. And so they get reborn as whatever, you know. Never mind. I won't get into that. But the next step is called "universal responsibility." And that is very important -- the Charter of Compassion
Video examples
Xiye Bastida: If you...
There is greed, there's pride, there's money, and there's materialism. People make it so easy for me to talk to them, but they make it so hard for me to teach them. I want them to have the confidence to always do their best. I want them to have the heart and the courage
Video examples
A glimpse of life on the...
renouncing materialism, traditional jobs and university degrees in exchange for a glimmer of adventure. Others come from the underbelly of society, never given a chance to mobilize foster care dropouts, teenage runaways escaping abuse and unforgiving homes.
Video examples
The psychology of...
gave way to the self-esteem movement and a rise in materialism. More recently, social media has multiplied the possibilities for self-promotion, though it's worth noting that there's no clear evidence that social media causes narcissism.
Video examples
A life of purpose PIPE Rick...
and on and on and on. Why did I do that? Because every time I give, it breaks the grip of materialism in my life. Materialism is all about getting -- get, get, get, get all you can, can all you get, sit on the can and spoil the rest.
Video examples
Nancy Etcoff: Happiness...
you see life satisfaction going up with each rung of income. You see mental distress going up with lower income. So clearly there is some effect. But the effect is relatively small. And one of the problems with money is materialism.
Video examples
The philosophy of...
and societal measures of success, he could be truly free. He would live self-sufficiently, close to nature, without materialism, vanity, or conformity. In practice, this meant he spent years wandering around Greek cities
Video examples
Love -- you're doing it...
Consumerism is not materialism. It is rather what is swallowed up and sacrificed in the name of the god of love, or rather in the name of seduction capital. In light of this observation on contemporary love,
Video examples
How we can navigate the...
tyranny of materialism of symbolic Egypt they go no sorry I I'm not going to have the whole world eating unleavened bread after this if you want a real answer if
Video examples
The surprising science...
is is relatively small and one of the problems with money is materialism what happens when people pursue money to avidly is they forget about the real basic pleasures of life so we have here this couple do you think the less fortunate or having better sex but I'm this kid over here saying leave me alone
Video examples
Robert Thurman:...
And materialism, they think they get out of it just by not existing, by dying, but they don't. And so they get reborn as whatever, you know. Never mind. I won't get into that. But the next step is called "universal responsibility." And that is very important -- the Charter of Compassion
Video examples
Xiye Bastida: If you...
There is greed, there's pride, there's money, and there's materialism. People make it so easy for me to talk to them, but they make it so hard for me to teach them. I want them to have the confidence to always do their best. I want them to have the heart and the courage
Video examples
A glimpse of life on the...
renouncing materialism, traditional jobs and university degrees in exchange for a glimmer of adventure. Others come from the underbelly of society, never given a chance to mobilize foster care dropouts, teenage runaways escaping abuse and unforgiving homes.
Video examples
The psychology of...
gave way to the self-esteem movement and a rise in materialism. More recently, social media has multiplied the possibilities for self-promotion, though it's worth noting that there's no clear evidence that social media causes narcissism.
Video examples
A life of purpose PIPE Rick...
and on and on and on. Why did I do that? Because every time I give, it breaks the grip of materialism in my life. Materialism is all about getting -- get, get, get, get all you can, can all you get, sit on the can and spoil the rest.
Video examples
Nancy Etcoff: Happiness...
you see life satisfaction going up with each rung of income. You see mental distress going up with lower income. So clearly there is some effect. But the effect is relatively small. And one of the problems with money is materialism.
Video examples
The philosophy of...
and societal measures of success, he could be truly free. He would live self-sufficiently, close to nature, without materialism, vanity, or conformity. In practice, this meant he spent years wandering around Greek cities
Video examples
Love -- you're doing it...
Consumerism is not materialism. It is rather what is swallowed up and sacrificed in the name of the god of love, or rather in the name of seduction capital. In light of this observation on contemporary love,
Video examples
How we can navigate the...
tyranny of materialism of symbolic Egypt they go no sorry I I'm not going to have the whole world eating unleavened bread after this if you want a real answer if
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Tom Ford
American Designer
But as an adult working in the fashion industry, I struggle with materialism. And I'm one of the least materialistic people that exist, because material possessions don't mean much to me. They're beautiful, I enjoy them, they can enhance your life to a certain degree, but they're ultimately not important.
Quote examples
Michael Frome
American Author
Civilization in our time is driven by materialism and troubled by pollution, over-population, corruption, and violence. National parks can hardly be uncoupled from the society around them, but that only makes it more important to protect them and keep them whole and pure.
Quote examples
Max Heindel
Danish Celebrity
It is a law in the universe that a wave of spiritual awakening is always followed by a period of doubting materialism, each phase is necessary in order that the spirit may receive equal development of heart and intellect without being carried too far in either direction.
Quote examples
E. F. Schumacher
English Economist
An attitude to life which seeks fulfillment in the single-minded pursuit of wealth - in short, materialism - does not fit into this world, because it contains within itself no limiting principle, while the environment in which it is placed is strictly limited.
Quote examples
Shari Arison
Israeli Businesswoman
Matters of the heart are important to me. All this materialism and all the money and wealth are things that you don't take to the grave. One day you have it. The next day you don't.
Quote examples
H. L. Mencken
American Writer
It is not materialism that is the chief curse of the world, as pastors teach, but idealism. Men get into trouble by taking their visions and hallucinations too seriously.
Quote examples
Wassily Kandinsky
Russian Artist
The nightmare of materialism, which has turned the life of the universe into an evil, useless game, is not yet past; it holds the awakening soul still in its grip.
Quote examples
Kerry Washington
American Actress
I always prided myself on the fact that I could live out of milk crates forever. It was kind of my way of detaching from materialism.
Quote examples
Laurance Rockefeller
American Businessman
Individually, people are finding that a simpler lifestyle provides greater satisfaction than relentless pursuit of materialism.
Quote examples
Henri Frederic Amiel
Swiss Philosopher
Materialism coarsens and petrifies everything, making everything vulgar, and every truth false.
Quote examples
Tom Ford
American Designer
But as an adult working in the fashion industry, I struggle with materialism. And I'm one of the least materialistic people that exist, because material possessions don't mean much to me. They're beautiful, I enjoy them, they can enhance your life to a certain degree, but they're ultimately not important.
Quote examples
Michael Frome
American Author
Civilization in our time is driven by materialism and troubled by pollution, over-population, corruption, and violence. National parks can hardly be uncoupled from the society around them, but that only makes it more important to protect them and keep them whole and pure.
Quote examples
Max Heindel
Danish Celebrity
It is a law in the universe that a wave of spiritual awakening is always followed by a period of doubting materialism, each phase is necessary in order that the spirit may receive equal development of heart and intellect without being carried too far in either direction.
Quote examples
E. F. Schumacher
English Economist
An attitude to life which seeks fulfillment in the single-minded pursuit of wealth - in short, materialism - does not fit into this world, because it contains within itself no limiting principle, while the environment in which it is placed is strictly limited.
Quote examples
Shari Arison
Israeli Businesswoman
Matters of the heart are important to me. All this materialism and all the money and wealth are things that you don't take to the grave. One day you have it. The next day you don't.
Quote examples
H. L. Mencken
American Writer
It is not materialism that is the chief curse of the world, as pastors teach, but idealism. Men get into trouble by taking their visions and hallucinations too seriously.
Quote examples
Wassily Kandinsky
Russian Artist
The nightmare of materialism, which has turned the life of the universe into an evil, useless game, is not yet past; it holds the awakening soul still in its grip.
Quote examples
Kerry Washington
American Actress
I always prided myself on the fact that I could live out of milk crates forever. It was kind of my way of detaching from materialism.
Quote examples
Laurance Rockefeller
American Businessman
Individually, people are finding that a simpler lifestyle provides greater satisfaction than relentless pursuit of materialism.
Quote examples
Henri Frederic Amiel
Swiss Philosopher
Materialism coarsens and petrifies everything, making everything vulgar, and every truth false.
Example 1 of 10
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