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happiness

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noun hap·pi·ness \ ˈha-pē-nəs \

Definition of happiness

1 obsolete :good fortune :prosperity
  • all happiness bechance to thee
  • —William Shakespeare
2 a :a state of well-being and contentment :joy
b :a pleasurable or satisfying experience
  • I wish you every happiness in life.
  • I had the happiness of seeing you
  • —W. S. Gilbert
3 :felicity, aptness
  • a striking happiness of expression

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Examples of happiness in a Sentence

  1. They made a toast to long life and happiness.

  2. her happiness was complete when she got her very own house

Recent Examples of happiness from the Web

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

Origin and Etymology of happiness

see happy

happiness Synonyms

Synonyms
beatitude, blessedness, bliss, blissfulness, felicity, gladness, joy, warm fuzzies
Antonyms
calamity, ill-being, misery, sadness, unhappiness, wretchedness
Related Words
elatedness, elation, exhilaration, exultation, high, intoxication; ecstasy, euphoria, glory, heaven, nirvana, paradise, rapture, rapturousness, ravishment, seventh heaven, transport; delectation, delight, enjoyment, pleasure; cheer, cheerfulness, comfort, exuberance, gaiety (also gayety), gladsomeness, glee, gleefulness, jocundity, jollity, joyfulness, joyousness, jubilance, jubilation, lightheartedness, merriness, mirth; content, contentedness, gratification, satisfaction, triumph
Near Antonyms
agony, anguish, desolation, joylessness, sorrow, sufferance, woe, woefulness; blues, cheerlessness, dejection, depression, desolateness, despondency, disheartenment, dispiritedness, doldrums, downheartedness, gloom, gloominess, melancholy, mournfulness, plaintiveness; Gehenna, hell, purgatory

HAPPINESS Defined for English Language Learners

happiness

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noun

Definition of happiness for English Language Learners

  • : the state of being happy

  • : an experience that makes you happy

Learn More about happiness

  1. See words that rhyme with happiness Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for happiness Spanish Central: Translation of happiness Nglish: Translation of happiness for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of happiness for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about happiness

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Examples: happiness in a Sentence