as in to delight
to give satisfaction to
it would gladden me to hear you sing again
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Recent Examples of gladden
But there’s something reliably gladdening about sitting down with a warm bowl that promises to nourish.
—
Karen Yuan, Bon Appétit, 1 Feb. 2025
But there’s something genuinely gladdening to take away from this inquiry into the modern media.
—Jason Linkins, The New Republic, 18 Feb. 2023
The quick-change, prop-heavy musical skit brings to the stage, briefly, staples from that classic variety show that will gladden the hearts of TV nostalgists: acrobats, plate spinners, jugglers, the Rockettes, the Vienna Boys Choir, Liberace and even the mouse puppet Topo Gigio.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Nov. 2022
The word from Washington is sure to gladden the Newsom campaign.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2021
Even a dead beaver, with its buck teeth sticking out of its decomposing skull, seemed to gladden Balken.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2021
The Concorde will gladden the hearts of record buffs.
—J. A. Maxtone Graham, Popular Mechanics, 24 Sep. 2020
That turnaround is sure to gladden the hearts of Republicans, who have no hope of controlling the White House without Texas.
—Todd J. Gillman, Dallas News, 6 Sep. 2020
Karen Yuan, Bon Appétit, 1 Feb. 2025
But there’s something genuinely gladdening to take away from this inquiry into the modern media.
—Jason Linkins, The New Republic, 18 Feb. 2023
The quick-change, prop-heavy musical skit brings to the stage, briefly, staples from that classic variety show that will gladden the hearts of TV nostalgists: acrobats, plate spinners, jugglers, the Rockettes, the Vienna Boys Choir, Liberace and even the mouse puppet Topo Gigio.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Nov. 2022
The word from Washington is sure to gladden the Newsom campaign.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2021
Even a dead beaver, with its buck teeth sticking out of its decomposing skull, seemed to gladden Balken.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2021
The Concorde will gladden the hearts of record buffs.
—J. A. Maxtone Graham, Popular Mechanics, 24 Sep. 2020
That turnaround is sure to gladden the hearts of Republicans, who have no hope of controlling the White House without Texas.
—Todd J. Gillman, Dallas News, 6 Sep. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gladden
Verb
-
SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Hilke Schellmann,
Scientific American,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Every detail has been carefully designed to delight guests, from the private balconies with ocean views to the terraces with hot tubs.—
José Cantillo Ferrer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In the meantime, the sanitation department is appealing to the ethos of New Yorkers to please, be a good neighbor.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
This recipe starts with a pound of ground round and adds delicious warming flavors to make a truly crowd-pleasing soup.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Breakfast Habits to Boost Your Energy Fortunately, several delicious and nutritious breakfast habits can boost energy levels and satisfy your cravings.—
Carrie Madormo,
Verywell Health,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Pizza fans can find casual, satisfying slices at Mezza Luna Pizza, which offers a relaxed, counter-service experience.—
Lauren Schuster,
Kansas City Star,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
After the brief cool-down, the region will quickly warm back up into the lower 80s on Wednesday.—
Michael Autovino,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Managing rivers in a warming climate Meghan Quinn, California dam removal director at American Rivers, said the rupture underscores the risks that come with trying to manage rivers primarily through aging dams and pipelines in an era of more extreme swings between drought and downpours.—
Chaewon Chung,
Sacbee.com,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The holiday marks the end of the pre-Lenten season and is a time for feasting before fasting begins.—
Chris Sims,
IndyStar,
17 Feb. 2026
-
And of course, people feast with a spread of symbolic dishes — one of the most iconic is a steamed whole fish, which represents abundance.—
Lucia Cheng,
Des Moines Register,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
They were probably just amused by it, and Epstein more so.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Trump’s frenetic social media activity is also aimed more at titillating his hardcore online supporters (and, again, amusing himself) than persuading swing voters.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gladden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gladden. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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