gladden

verb

ˈgla-dᵊn How to pronounce gladden (audio)
Definition of gladdennext
as in to delight
to give satisfaction to it would gladden me to hear you sing again

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 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 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 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
  1. delight
  2. please
  3. satisfy
  4. warm
  5. feast
  6. amuse
Verb
  • Mitchell entered the theater just after the clip ended and was delighted by the immersive effects.
    — Matt Minton, Variety, 19 July 2026
  • Meanwhile, across the street, The Hitch General Store delights visitors with nostalgic treats such as Goo Goo Clusters, Moon Pies, jams, honey, and classic bottled sodas.
    — Korrin Bishop, Southern Living, 18 July 2026
Definition of delight
Verb
  • Alice is not a person who puts on airs to please others; quite the opposite.
    — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 27 July 2026
  • An artists’ responsibility is to confront the truth of things rather than chasing mass approval or trying to please everybody.
    — Marlow Stern, Variety, 25 July 2026
Definition of please
Verb
  • Dunphy said there are valid examples of how the Moda renovations could satisfy using the fund.
    — Jason Quick, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • In the United Kingdom, Rumours alone is not enough to satisfy listeners’ demand.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of satisfy
Verb
  • For a climate scientist, the intrigue lies in how much of that gas will end up warming the planet.
    — Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
  • Particularly strong and slow-moving heat domes are also possibly becoming more common as the world warms, though this is an area of active research.
    — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
Definition of warm
Verb
  • Ayres noted a large wound on the fish’s body before the impact, which hinted that the orcas feasted on the creature before slamming it to pieces.
    — Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 23 July 2026
  • Diners here can feast upon things like duck-fat frites for brunch and espresso-rubbed steaks for dinner.
    — Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 23 July 2026
Definition of feast
Verb
  • The refreshing sight of the women teaming up against Falstaff never fails to amuse.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
  • Mandel appeared amused by the tribute, but the rest of the panel was considerably less enthusiastic.
    — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026
Definition of amuse

Browse Nearby Words

gladded
gladden
gladdened
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gladden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gladden. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on gladden

Nglish: Translation of gladden 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 spindrift

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Jul. 31

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
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
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All