elation

noun

i-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce elation (audio)
Definition of elationnext
as in ecstasy
a state of overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion most people can't imagine the kind of elation that comes with winning a super lottery's grand prize, but they're dying to find out

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of elation When elation and exuberance reign, valuations are high and stocks are dangerous. — James Berman, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 For a 24-year-old trying to make it in the Big Leagues, that kind of success would typically cause pure elation. — Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 25 June 2026 But elsewhere, there was elation. — CBS News, 22 June 2026 There are four basic types of the disorder, which are characterized by periods of elation and hyperactivity known as manic episodes, which are then followed by depressive stages where the patient experiences feelings of sadness and depression. — Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for elation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elation
  1. ecstasy
  2. joy
  3. happiness
  4. euphoria
  5. heaven
  6. exhilaration
  7. delight
Noun
  • The passage is eerily similar to Salinger’s own state of mind while in uniform, specifically on a day that should have evoked ecstasy.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Such is the ecstasy, the agony, of judgment, which was never for their benefit.
    — Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of ecstasy
Noun
  • For many, Menorca, one of Spain’s Balearic Islands, is synonymous with summer which makes Son Ermità like the thrill of the first dip in the sea in the morning or the joy of the last swim at dusk.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Offer one useful idea, keep the plan simple, and save space for joy too.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of joy
Noun
  • That quest to spark happiness during challenging times is precisely what inspired the textile artist Rashelle Campbell to start making her now-signature rugs.
    — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026
  • So Flaubert is describing a mechanism where happiness begets more happiness.
    — Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of happiness
Noun
  • Swimming also reduces stress as rhythmic breathing and movement trigger the release of brain chemicals such as endorphins and dopamine, which produce a sense of euphoria and well-being.
    — Michael McColly, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Styles’s fourth album revels in all those hours spent shouting euphoria into the ears of friends on dance floors and riding the bassy, body-vibrating techno loops until well after the sun comes up.
    — Vogue, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of euphoria
Noun
  • Sounds like heaven to me, but your security posture mileage may vary!
    — Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Its purpose is to take deep panoramic images of the sky, over and over again, every clear night across the next 10 years, making what amounts to a decade-spanning ultrahigh-definition timelapse movie of the entire heavens.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 24 July 2026
Definition of heaven
Noun
  • There is another helm aft, which allows sailors to enjoy the exhilaration of the windward hull.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 16 July 2026
  • The games are known for the exhilaration of the first-person shootouts, organic open-world playgrounds, unique stories, and memorable antagonists.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 14 July 2026
Definition of exhilaration
Noun
  • But that misses the delight Arzner took in her stars and in the backlot drama of the studios.
    — Anne E. Fernald, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Here again, in this slim book, the narrative unfolds in fragments, every sentence drawing you deeper into the delights of language.
    — Amitava Kumar, New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of delight

Browse Nearby Words

elating
elation
elations
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Elation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elation. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on elation

Nglish: Translation of elation for Spanish Speakers

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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of prowess

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All