ecstasy

noun

ec·​sta·​sy ˈek-stə-sē 

plural ecstasies

1

: a state of overwhelming emotion

especially : rapturous delight

2

often capitalized : a synthetic amphetamine analog C₁₁H₁₅NO₂ used illicitly for its mood-enhancing and hallucinogenic properties

called also MDMA

3

: trance

especially : a mystic or prophetic trance

4

a

: a state of being beyond reason and self-control

b

archaic : swoon

Synonyms

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

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of ecstasy in a Sentence

His performance sent the audience into ecstasies.

actors are typically in ecstasy upon winning an Oscar

Recent Examples on the Web

According to police, blood tests performed at Eden Medical Center turned up evidence Santos had used amphetamines, opiates, cannabis and ecstasy. —Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2024

And in December, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies filed an application with the FDA to approve MDMA, also known as ecstasy, in combination with therapy to treat PTSD. —Emily Mullin, WIRED, 5 Jan. 2024

By the end of the game, their pride turned to ecstasy. —Hanif Abdurraqib, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2024

Ke Xiang Chen has pleaded not guilty and awaits trial after an arrest last October for alleged possession of ketamine and ecstasy and acquiring drug proceeds, court records show. —Sebastian Rotella, ProPublica, 22 Mar. 2024

Both officers told police that a passenger arriving at the airport — later identified as Lorenzo — had MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy or molly) on him. —Cbs News Miami, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2024

Soho House’s flashbulb moment among around-the-world normies, though, may have been in 2002, when it was reported that Jude Law’s toddler accidentally swallowed an ecstasy tablet at a kids’ party there. —Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024

The medical examiner said later the 22-year-old had died with cocaine and ecstasy in his system. —Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Feb. 2024

The paper previously reported that Musk has used LSD, cocaine, ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms, often at private parties. —Virginia Van Natta, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English exstasie, extasy "elation," borrowed from Middle French extasie, "stupor, transported state," borrowed from Late Latin ecstasis, extasis "trance, swoon, profound sleep," borrowed from Greek ékstasis "displacement, mental distraction, astonishment, trance," from eksta-, stem of existánai "to displace, drive out of one's senses, confound," exístasthai "to be astonished, lose consciousness" (from ex- ex- entry 3 + histánai "to cause to stand, place," hístasthai "to be standing") + -sis -sis — more at stand entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Kids Definition

ecstasy

noun

ec·​sta·​sy ˈek-stə-sē 

plural ecstasies

1

: a state of being beyond reason and self-control

2

: a state of overwhelming emotion

an ecstasy of fear

especially : very great joy

3

: a drug used illegally to stimulate the central nervous system and to cause hallucinations

ecstatic

ek-ˈstat-ik

ik-

adjective

ecstatically

-i-k(ə-)lē

adverb

Medical Definition

ecstasy

noun

ec·​sta·​sy ˈek-stə-sē 

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

ecstatic

ek-ˈstat-ik 

adjective