exaltation

noun

ex·​al·​ta·​tion ˌeg-ˌzȯl-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce exaltation (audio)
ˌek-ˌsȯl-
1
: an act of exalting : the state of being exalted
2
: an excessively intensified sense of well-being, power, or importance
3
: an increase in degree or intensity
exaltation of virulence of a virus

Examples of exaltation in a Sentence

feelings of joy and exaltation
Recent Examples on the Web The country star came around but embraced her exaltation eventually, as many imagine Cher would be likely to. Chris Willman, Variety, 10 Feb. 2024 Once Megan Thee Stallion jumps in with a fiery rap verse, the song explodes into pure pop exaltation, as Meg and Reneé prove exactly why everyone cannot stop talking about them. Stephen Daw, Billboard, 15 Dec. 2023 But in light of what Mr. Trump has gone on to become, his exaltation of the ruthless crushing of democratic protesters is steeped in foreshadowing. Maggie Haberman, New York Times, 4 Dec. 2023 And Francesco, in his exaltation of Anna, rejects the love of a woman who doesn’t care about his ignominious origins: Elisa’s eventual guardian, Rosaria. Jess Bergman, The New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2023 The landscapes of Mahler’s imagination —the Alpine vistas against which the composer’s conceptions of fate, exaltation, and acceptance play out — had the crisp, outsized brilliance of a digital billboard. Vulture, 22 May 2023 The artist’s most recent exaltation of love, and its all-encompassing power, is The Love Album: Off The Grid. Felice León, Essence, 22 Sep. 2023 James insisted that the gas, for decades a carnival attraction prior to its use as an anesthetic in oral surgery, granted him access to a sublime realm of existence akin to religious exaltation. Federico Perelmuter, Washington Post, 10 Aug. 2023 Physiological birth becomes not about nature, selfhood, or exaltation but about survival. Allison Yarrow, ELLE, 24 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'exaltation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of exaltation was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near exaltation

Cite this Entry

“Exaltation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exaltation. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

exaltation

noun
ex·​al·​ta·​tion ˌeg-ˌzȯl-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce exaltation (audio)
1
: the act of exalting : the state of being exalted
2
: a greatly heightened sense of personal well-being, power, or importance

Medical Definition

exaltation

noun
ex·​al·​ta·​tion ˌeg-ˌzȯl-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce exaltation (audio) ˌek-ˌsȯl- How to pronounce exaltation (audio)
1
a
: marked or excessive intensification of a mental state or of the activity of a bodily part or function
b
: an abnormal sense of personal well-being, power, or importance : a delusional euphoria
2
: an increase in degree or intensity
exaltation of virulence of a virus
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!