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
Relevance
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
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 exhilarated
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
Walking into that pitch-black space, not seeing anything while having my eyes wide open exhilarated and frightened me.
—Jeryl Brunner, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
Unlike his exhilarated mother, Titus reacted neutrally.
—Jenna Russell, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2023
She was surrounded by exhilarated doctors who had completed the first successful fetal brain surgery two days earlier.
—Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 12 May 2023
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
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
Walking into that pitch-black space, not seeing anything while having my eyes wide open exhilarated and frightened me.
—Jeryl Brunner, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
Unlike his exhilarated mother, Titus reacted neutrally.
—Jenna Russell, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2023
She was surrounded by exhilarated doctors who had completed the first successful fetal brain surgery two days earlier.
—Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 12 May 2023
Verb
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
-
Alonzo Carter, hired in December to lead the program, was spotted in Instagram posts among ecstatic Hornets football players on campus when Orr and Wood told them the FBS move was official.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The arousal, reward, and bonding systems that produce the ecstatic connection of limerence are also central to the development of addiction.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Clad in matching black hoodies, sweatpants, and Alexander Wang baseball caps, the Korean American Youth Choir of New York thrilled the crowd with renditions of Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit and Alphaville’s Forever Young; two songs personally selected by Wang.—
Savannah Hanoum,
Vogue,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Some customers are thrilled with the results, the wide availability and budget-friendly price point, while others experience mixed quality due to the brand's installation contracting process.—
Dan Simms,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Evan Phillips excited to be back Days after signing a one-year contract to return to the Dodgers — despite being non-tendered earlier in the offseason — Evan Phillips expressed relief at being back.—
Jack Vita,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Being in France making something that felt inspired by Rohmer excited him.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The two men at the forefront of the move to the highest level of NCAA Division I college athletics told their giddy and dancing gridiron student-athletes the historic news on Monday morning.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Like their future disciples in PC Music, Scritti Politti were giddy pop fans who approached the form as self-conscious outsiders, foregrounding its artificiality, pushing its bright colors to new extremes, aiming to make great pop records that also asked probing questions about what pop even is.—
Andy Cush,
Pitchfork,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The outspokenness of the Winter Olympic athletes echoes a dramatic protest by Olympians Tommie Smith and John Carlos which electrified the 1968 Summer Games in Mexico City.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The Japanese rider packed multiple four-rotation tricks into a single run, including the triple-flip aerial that electrified the crowd, executing them in different directions down the pipe without sacrificing height.—
Rick Maese,
Washington Post,
13 Feb. 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 is the third visit to San Diego’s Ronald McDonald House for the Woodward Center’s PET Program, which delighted families last fall with a Halloween visit, including therapy pets in costumes manning special treat stations.—
Dawn Giangiulio,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Bob Dylan, too, passed through, once working with a local shipbuilder on a custom wooden schooner called Water Pearl, delighted that the unbothered locals did not recognize him.—
Elena Clavarino,
Air Mail,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Tongues tested, palates finally pleased, the adventurers decided that this was as good a place to stop as any.—
Sheldon Pearce,
New Yorker,
20 Feb. 2026
-
That pleased Republicans who had called for his resignation.—
Dana Ferguson,
NPR,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exhilarated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exhilarated. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
