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
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Recent Examples of exhilarated
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
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
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
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
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
Verb
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
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Even rave, which, frenzied and ecstatic, seems the opposite, had its own logic of form.—
Jan Steyn,
The Dial,
10 Mar. 2026
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But after seeing his name next to many minuses lately, Levshunov was ecstatic Sunday to finally be on the positive side after a game.—
Scott Powers,
New York Times,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The alleged abuse began when Romain was 14 years old and thrilled to be the only freshman member of the school’s varsity water polo team, the suit states.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Gobert was among the most thrilled when news spread of Anderson’s return.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But a possible second-round matchup excited the players even more.—
Matt Murschel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 Mar. 2026
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But all those concept records were sort of flying about then, and for a while afterwards, so we were just being excited by the zeitgeist then.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Online, giddy takes on Operation Epic Fury described it as a checkmate move against China, rather than a war of choice against Iran.—
Andy Browne,
semafor.com,
2 Mar. 2026
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Hudson Williams also makes a cameo as one of the giddy skaters, a sweet nod to his actual friendship with Storrie (and, of course, a seemingly necessary offering to the feral studio audience).—
Rima Parikh,
Vulture,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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His second-inning grand slam against Chinese Taipei electrified the crowd, made the day of one big baseball fan and virtually put an end to Samurai Japan’s blowout victory.—
Maria Torres,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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All the Miami stars played and Messi, returning from injury, electrified the Chase Stadium crowd with a pair of goals in the span of 11 minutes to put Miami ahead late in the game.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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The comparison likely delighted Israel’s longest-serving leader, whose supporters rapidly shared the article on social media.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
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On a weekend morning at the San Jose Mylapore, when my husband and I waited in a line that lasted over an hour, the staffers brought us a tray containing small cups of agathi keerai rice, a delicious, hunter green mix that delighted us.—
Kalpana Mohan,
Mercury News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The new, and more expensive, XDR model goes a bit further with mini-LED backlighting, better contrasting and dimming zones, and an improved 120Hz refresh rate (the standard edition is capped at 60Hz) — an update Apple gamers and HDR lovers should be pleased by.—
Shawn Chen,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The new, and more expensive, XDR model goes a bit further with mini-LED backlighting, better contrasting and dimming zones, and an improved 120Hz refresh rate (the standard edition is capped at 60Hz) — an update Apple gamers and HDR lovers should be pleased by.—
Shawn Chen,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exhilarated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exhilarated. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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