feel-good
UK[ˈfiːl ɡʊd]US[ˈfiːl ɡʊd]
adj
designed to make people feel happy and satisfied, often in a way that is not serious or deep
n
a feeling of happiness or satisfaction, especially one that is temporary or not based on reality
Morpheme Breakdown
feel
good
feel
to touch, perceive, experience.
good
virtuous, desirable, valid, pleasant.
Etymology
The compound adjective 'feel-good' is a modern English formation, originating in the mid-20th century. It directly combines the verb 'feel,' with its ancient sense of experiencing a sensation, and the adjective 'good,' denoting a positive quality. The term's logic is transparently literal, describing something that induces a sensation of goodness or happiness. Its evolution reflects a cultural focus on emotional states and well-being, moving from a descriptive phrase to a fixed lexical item often used in contexts like "feel-good film" or "feel-good factor."
Analysis
Structure: feel + good
- feel: From Old English fēlan, meaning "to touch, perceive, experience." It is a verb root of Germanic origin.
- good: From Old English gōd, meaning "virtuous, desirable, valid, pleasant." It is an adjective root of Germanic origin.
Examples
The movie is a classic feel-good story about an underdog who triumphs.
The government's announcement was more about creating a feel-good factor than implementing real change.
She dismissed the compliment as empty feel-good praise.