ecstasy

noun ec·sta·sy \ ˈek-stə-sē \

Definition of ecstasy

plural ecstasies

1 a :a state of being beyond reason and self-control

b archaic :swoon

2 :a state of overwhelming emotion; especially :rapturous delight

3 :trance; especially :a mystic or prophetic trance

4 often capitalized :a synthetic amphetamine analog C₁₁H₁₅NO₂ used illicitly for its mood-enhancing and hallucinogenic properties — called also MDMA

See ecstasy defined for English-language learners

See ecstasy defined for kids

Examples of ecstasy in a Sentence

His performance sent the audience into ecstasies.
actors are typically in ecstasy upon winning an Oscar

Recent Examples of ecstasy from the Web

DuPage County court records show Czerwinski, formerly of Carol Stream, was convicted in 2013 of felony possession of 15 grams or less of ecstasy in Naperville and in 2016 for driving under the influence of alcohol in Wheaton.

— bill bird, Naperville Sun, "Man tried to film under woman's skirt at Naperville store, police say," 24 Aug. 2017
He and his crew were assembled at a lake near Carbondale, surrounded by people who had traveled thousands of miles — from Australia, Japan, Sweden, Poland — for 21/2 minutes of ecstasy.

— mary schmich, chicagotribune.com, "Tom Skilling's solar eclipse sob a joy to viewers," 22 Aug. 2017
Officials in the Netherlands seized 1.8 tons of MDMA, also known as ecstasy, 136 kilograms (300 pounds) of cocaine and 15 kilograms (30 pounds) of crystal methamphetamine, all bound for Australia, the Australian Federal Police said.

— Bloomberg.com, "17 People Arrested in 3 Countries in Australian Drug Bust," 8 Aug. 2017
At the time, such unguarded expression of emotion, from ecstasy to despair, was unheard of.

— Vogue, "Not All of Hedi Slimane’s Muses Are Guitar Heroes," 4 Aug. 2017
During totality, people drop to their knees, weep, cry out; even typically staid and reserved people are reduced to exhaustion, tears, and a form of ecstasy.

— rebecca boyle, The Atlantic, "America's Greatest Mass Migration to See a Natural Event," 3 Aug. 2017
While often condemned as essentially a lottery process; the agony and ecstasy of the playoffs makes for a truly compelling spectacle.

— SI.com, "Sheffield Wednesday vs Huddersfield Town Match Preview: Classic Encounter, Team News & More," 19 July 2017
A coroner’s report released Monday about her death in December said alcohol, cocaine, heroin and ecstasy were found in her system.

— richard winton, The Seattle Times, "Despite demons, Carrie Fisher helped many fight theirs," 25 June 2017
Boddie’s other son, NFL flameout Marcus Vick, has had several run-ins with the police and is currently facing an ecstasy-possession charge, which reportedly is still pending, the Daily News reports.

— stephen a. crockett jr., The Root, "Michael Vick’s Father Charged in Heroin Ring," 22 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ecstasy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of ecstasy

Middle English extasie, from Middle French, from Late Latin ecstasis, from Greek ekstasis, from existanai to derange, from ex- out + histanai to cause to stand — more at ex-, stand

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

ecstasy Synonyms

Synonyms

cloud nine, elatedness, elation, euphoria, exhilaration, heaven, high, intoxication, paradise, rapture, rhapsody, seventh heaven, swoon, transport

Antonyms

depression

Related Words

exaltation; blessedness, bliss, blissfulness, delight, enchantment, felicity, gladness, happiness, joy, joyfulness, joyousness, pleasure; reverie, trance; inspiration; fervor, frenzy, madness, passion; cheer, cheerfulness, exuberance, gaiety (also gayety), glee, gleefulness, jubilance, jubilation, lightheartedness

Near Antonyms

misery, sadness, unhappiness, woe, wretchedness; blues, dejection, desolation, despair, despondency, disconsolateness, disheartenment, dispiritedness, doldrums, downheartedness, dreariness, dumps, forlornness, gloom, gloominess, heartsickness, melancholy, mopes

Synonym Discussion of ecstasy

ecstasy, rapture, transport mean intense exaltation of mind and feelings. ecstasy and rapture both suggest a state of trance or near immobility produced by an overpowering emotion. ecstasy may apply to any strong emotion (such as joy, fear, rage, adoration).

- religious ecstasy

rapture usually implies intense bliss or beatitude.

- in speechless rapture

transport applies to any powerful emotion that lifts one out of oneself and usually provokes vehement expression or frenzied action.

- in a transport of rage

Other Occult Terms

augury, censor, invocation, lucidity, metempsychosis, mojo, numinous, preternatural, weird, wraith

ECSTASY Defined for English Language Learners

ecstasy

noun

Definition of ecstasy for English Language Learners

: a state of very great happiness : extreme delight
: an illegal drug that is used to produce a feeling of excitement and pleasure

ECSTASY Defined for Kids

ecstasy

noun ec·sta·sy \ ˈek-stə-sē \

Definition of ecstasy for Students

plural ecstasies

:very great happiness or delight

Medical Dictionary

ecstasy

noun ec·sta·sy \ ˈek-stə-sē \

medical Definition of ecstasy

plural ecstasies

1 :a trance state in which intense absorption (as in religious ideation) is accompanied by loss of sense perception and voluntary control

2 often capitalized :a synthetic amphetamine analog C₁₁H₁₅NO₂ used illicitly for its mood-enhancing and hallucinogenic properties — called also MDMA, methylenedioxymethamphetamine, XTC

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