gratifying

adjective

grat·​i·​fy·​ing ˈgra-tə-ˌfī-iŋ How to pronounce gratifying (audio)
: giving pleasure or satisfaction : pleasing
a gratifying result
gratifyingly adverb

Examples of gratifying in a Sentence

It was a gratifying victory. The response has been gratifying.
Recent Examples on the Web Most artists would consider a MoMA retrospective — even more so than an appearance in the Biennale — a gratifying recognition of one’s lifelong efforts. Susan Dominus Emiliano Granado, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2024 The vivid experience of hearing patients’ and caregivers’ anxious voices on call and helping bring them to a place of comfort has been onerous, yet at times uniquely gratifying. Jeffrey Millstein and Jeffrey Tokazewski, STAT, 22 Feb. 2024 As such, the shift towards more progressive ideals holds the potential to nurture relationships that are more gratifying, supportive and equitable partnerships in the evolving landscape of the 21st century. Mark Travers, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024 There was this level of trust from him, which was so gratifying for me. Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 16 Feb. 2024 Jennifer Ouellette There are few things more gratifying to cat lovers than a contentedly purring feline. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 5 Oct. 2023 From this hefty thesis DuVernay delivers an intellectually stimulating, emotionally gratifying film swirling with ideas. Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 17 Jan. 2024 The Bear Season 2 The extremely gratifying second season of The Bear offers a heavy shift in perspective as Jeremy Allen White’s Carmy tries to transform his late brother’s gritty sandwich shop into a world-class restaurant. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Dec. 2023 In a 1998 interview with The Times, Mr. Greenburg admitted to missing some of the ego rewards of writing adult fiction, but insisted that writing children’s books had been deeply gratifying. Glenn Rifkin, New York Times, 19 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gratifying.' 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

circa 1611, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gratifying was circa 1611

Dictionary Entries Near gratifying

Cite this Entry

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

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