aesthete

noun

aes·​thete ˈes-ˌthēt How to pronounce aesthete (audio)
British usually ˈēs-
variants or less commonly esthete
: one having or affecting sensitivity to the beautiful especially in art

Examples of aesthete in a Sentence

He regards art critics as a bunch of pretentious aesthetes.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Saxberger is wary, but Meyers’s admiration touches something, and soon the older man’s convinced to join a nightly meeting of young aesthetes. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 Beyond storage, this bed is great for modern design aesthetes. — Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 13 Oct. 2026 But even an aesthete who has traded ranch work for design can’t resist reaching for his roots. — Kathryn O’Shea-Evans, Robb Report, 27 Sep. 2026 That someone with a voice as communicative and constantly evolving as Bridges is often reduced to a retro aesthete is a shame. — Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for aesthete

Word History

Etymology

probably derivative of aesthetic entry 1 or aesthetics, on the model of athletics : athlete and similar pairs

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of aesthete was in 1866

Browse Nearby Words

aesthesis
aesthete
aesthetic
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Aesthete.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aesthete. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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