people pleaser
noun
variants
or less commonly people-pleaser
plural people pleasers also people-pleasers
: someone or something that pleases or wants to please people
a breed of dog that's a people pleaser
This sophisticated, nutritious salad is a real people-pleaser, and it's quite filling too.—Brett Stewart and Corey Irwin
often
: a person who has an emotional need to please others often at the expense of his or her own needs or desires
Being a people pleaser isn't all bad. It shows that you are a caring person who values social connections and enjoys making others happy. —Samantha Boardman
people-pleasing
noun
or people pleasing
… if you grew up in a home with a difficult, emotionally unavailable parent, you may have unconsciously picked up the pattern of people-pleasing in an attempt to engage the aloof parent.
—Meghan Fritz
people-pleasing
adjective
people-pleasing behavior
a people-pleasing recipe
Cite this Entry
“People pleaser.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/people%20pleaser. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.
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