as in ecstatic
experiencing or marked by overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion
the winner's exhilarated glow was seen in newspaper photographs around the globe
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in thrilled
to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings
the exhilarating feeling of flying that hang gliding offers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in excited
to fill with great joy
the climactic moment of commencement ceremonies usually exhilarates graduates and proud parents alike
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of exhilarated
Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 1 May 2026
Astronaut Nichole Ayers, who flew to space on Crew-10 in 2025, was part of the NASA broadcast team Wednesday evening and became emotional after seeing the launch surrounded by an exhilarated crowd.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
Dowling felt exhilarated and elated to see his pupil on top of the podium.
—Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Dunk seems at once exhilarated and overwhelmed.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
To some extent, that’s what accounts for so much of the exhilarated anticipation around his return.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 13 Jan. 2026
The set dressing is messy and shadowy, and yet, performance-wise, Gaga has never seemed more exhilarated.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 22 Dec. 2025
Since signing to Matador, the band has sharpened its sound into a quirky, exhilarated alt-pop, too uncanny to be dance-punk and too lively to be slacker rock.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
That was the man who walked out smiling, a little overwhelmed but entirely calm, into the late afternoon Roman sunshine, to the roars of a stunned and exhilarated crowd.
—Anna Rowlands, Time, 12 May 2025
Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2026
They are inspired by the stories of ancient cultures, captivated by the serenity of nature's wonders, and exhilarated by the excitement of encountering wildlife in their natural habitats.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Mar. 2026
Both essays make stark and rapid turns that defy traditional essay structure, moves that are destabilizing at the moment yet leave this reader exhilarated in the way Sloan circles back to her central concerns without ever settling for simple resolution.
—Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
With its riveting trombone and smashing rhythms, the music exhilarated.
—Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 27 Feb. 2026
Just take our word for it that Barbarian will leave you disturbed and exhilarated in equal measure.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Feb. 2026
So in my early and mid-20s, I was still exhilarated by just being free and alone in the world, and traveling, which agreed with me.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 11 Dec. 2025
Jen is exhilarated and ready to salsa her tuchis off, postpartum logistics be damned.
—Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025
Adjective
The film disrobes Wintour’s mythos by peeling back that which surrounds Miranda, who bears the editor’s same chilly, soft-spoken tenor whether exhilarated or furious.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 1 May 2026
Astronaut Nichole Ayers, who flew to space on Crew-10 in 2025, was part of the NASA broadcast team Wednesday evening and became emotional after seeing the launch surrounded by an exhilarated crowd.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
Dowling felt exhilarated and elated to see his pupil on top of the podium.
—Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Dunk seems at once exhilarated and overwhelmed.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
To some extent, that’s what accounts for so much of the exhilarated anticipation around his return.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 13 Jan. 2026
The set dressing is messy and shadowy, and yet, performance-wise, Gaga has never seemed more exhilarated.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 22 Dec. 2025
Since signing to Matador, the band has sharpened its sound into a quirky, exhilarated alt-pop, too uncanny to be dance-punk and too lively to be slacker rock.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
That was the man who walked out smiling, a little overwhelmed but entirely calm, into the late afternoon Roman sunshine, to the roars of a stunned and exhilarated crowd.
—Anna Rowlands, Time, 12 May 2025
Verb
LaMelo Ball beat his chest and shouted a few choice words, exhilarated after draining the bucket that ensured the Charlotte Hornets lived to play another day.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2026
They are inspired by the stories of ancient cultures, captivated by the serenity of nature's wonders, and exhilarated by the excitement of encountering wildlife in their natural habitats.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Mar. 2026
Both essays make stark and rapid turns that defy traditional essay structure, moves that are destabilizing at the moment yet leave this reader exhilarated in the way Sloan circles back to her central concerns without ever settling for simple resolution.
—Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
With its riveting trombone and smashing rhythms, the music exhilarated.
—Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 27 Feb. 2026
Just take our word for it that Barbarian will leave you disturbed and exhilarated in equal measure.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Feb. 2026
So in my early and mid-20s, I was still exhilarated by just being free and alone in the world, and traveling, which agreed with me.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 11 Dec. 2025
Jen is exhilarated and ready to salsa her tuchis off, postpartum logistics be damned.
—Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exhilarated
Adjective
-
Bryson Graham, the team’s new lead decision-maker, was ecstatic in the afterglow of the drawing.—
Mike Vorkunov,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
Monk’s music contorts into an ecstatic dance, one more befitting of a ritual trance state than a night at the Five Spot.—
Levi Dayan,
Pitchfork,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Atkinson, who was Providence’s only returning starter from last season, has been thrilled about Webb stepping up and being another senior leader on a young team.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
-
Gasper is particularly thrilled about two newer additions to the club, veteran Willson Contreras and Carlos Narváez, who’s in his sophomore season.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The challenge will be to get Trump voters excited for local and state candidates.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
Rookie center Raegan Beers, who signed with the Sun after going undrafted in 2026, said Griner pushed her early in training camp to own her space in the paint and was excited when Beers put an arm bar in her back during a defensive possession.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
There was no giddy celebration in Philly.—
Mike Lupica,
Hartford Courant,
11 May 2026
-
But that's a small price to pay for one of the giddiest comedies of the century.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Gasoline and diesel may not be as crucial in nations like China, which has massively electrified its fleet of cars and trucks.—
Grant Smith,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
-
Adrenaline had electrified my nerves, and fear kept me vigilant.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
The debate within the Democratic coalition is already bigger and louder, dividing moderates in swing states from progressives elated by Mamdani's rocket to victory in the nation's largest city.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This special performance is part of Film Independent’s ongoing Live Read series, which has delighted audiences since 2011.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
15 May 2026
-
Xi at the time gave the president and first lady a private tour of the Forbidden City, an ancient royal palace that's one of the most recognizable sites in China, and delighted them with a special performance of the Peking Opera on that visit.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Again, Brunello was a man at ease in his surroundings, pleased to share the docufilm about his life and philosophies.—
Randee Dawn,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
-
A couple giggling teens popped on and off that scale recently, pleased, apparently, by the reading.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exhilarated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exhilarated. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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