joie de vivre

noun

Definition of joie de vivrenext
as in enjoyment
formal a feeling of happiness or excitement about life She is admired for her energy and joie de vivre.

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of joie de vivre Malek plays a New York performance artist named Jimmy George in the 1980s, who has an affair with the cute ginger twink who’s just moved in downstairs as a sort of last grab at joie de vivre before the disease inevitably takes him down. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 May 2026 Joie de vivre Happy-go-lucky hounds have an abundance of joie de vivre, a French phrase that refers to a cheerful and exuberant enjoyment of life. — Aditya Simha, The Conversation, 7 May 2026 Surrounded by honeymooners, June tries (and flirts) to reclaim her joie de vivre, while Lela is deep in the dark. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 6 May 2026 If The House is Burning captured the joie de vivre of reclaiming your life after years of disassociation and detachment, IT’S BEEN AWFUL depicts the excruciating process of living with your eyes wide open, of holding up the mirror to your face and not looking away. — Brady Brickner-Wood, Pitchfork, 6 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for joie de vivre
Recent Examples of Synonyms for joie de vivre
  1. enjoyment
  2. delight
  3. joyfulness
  4. cheerfulness
Noun
  • When asked what matters most, respondents prioritized practicality (40%), value paired with quality (36%), and a three-way tie between technology, driving enjoyment, and performance (30% each).
    — Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
  • Conversations revolve around ingredients, craftsmanship, presentation and enjoyment, taking any assumptions of personal choice out of the equation.
    — Ascend Agency, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2026
Definition of enjoyment
Noun
  • Unexpectedly, and to the delight of many, Audio Research’s engineers found a single chassis gave better performance than its predecessor, the two-chassis Reference 10.
    — Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 8 July 2026
  • Just north of town sits Jackson Hole Mountain Resort (JHMR), your basecamp for outdoor delight.
    — Wendy Altschuler, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of delight
Noun
  • Beyond the absurdly catchy music and the rom-com story, part of the show’s joyfulness comes from its colorful costumes and beachy aesthetic.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
  • From beginning to end, there’s a joyfulness and a boyish innocence to IOI’s new iteration of the character, which surprised me.
    — Alex James Kane, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Definition of joyfulness
Noun
  • How is one not enamored of the Dutch fans’ togetherness and cheerfulness, or the costumes and smiles of the Japanese fans?
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 25 June 2026
  • Finns may not be known for demonstrative cheerfulness, nor necessarily for being makers of excessively happy music.
    — Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2026
Definition of cheerfulness

Browse Nearby Words

johns
joie de vivre
join
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Cite this Entry

“Joie de vivre.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/joie%20de%20vivre. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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