What term describes the inability to experience pleasure?

Anhedonia specifically refers to the inability to experience pleasure or enjoyment from activities that are typically found to be enjoyable. This term is often used in psychological and medical contexts to describe a symptom associated with various mental health conditions, especially depression and certain mood disorders. It highlights a significant aspect of the human experience where an individual may feel emotionally flat or disconnected from joy, which can lead to further issues in social interactions and daily functioning.

While melancholy, anxiety, and depression can all relate to negative emotional states, they do not focus solely on the inability to experience pleasure. Melancholy often encompasses deep sadness or sorrow, anxiety relates to excessive worry or fear, and depression is a broader diagnosis that includes a range of symptoms, one of which can be anhedonia. Therefore, anhedonia is the most precise term for describing the specific inability to feel pleasure.