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
-
After decades of delighting fans with her brilliant performances in comedies like Private Benjamin, Overboard and The First Wives Club, Hawn is turning to a different medium to spread the power of positivity.—
Eric Andersson,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
-
SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Adam Kovac,
Scientific American,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Kenny, however, doesn’t seem too desperate to please on that front.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
29 Apr. 2026
-
That song’s twangful snarl — wonderfully sung by Clark, a star recording artist in her own right — is a reminder that these insurgents are also preservationists, capable of delivering old-fashioned pleasures to please the purists.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile, the global memory crisis has worsened, forcing tech giants to pay up for the capacity needed to satisfy their data center ambitions.—
Jordan Novet,Jonathan Vanian,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The tense drama satisfies history lovers and weather nerds.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As the weather warms, melting snow from the mountains can lift local river levels even higher, with dangerous consequences.—
Hali Smith,
Idaho Statesman,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Montana, Wyoming and the Dakotas hold in the mid-20s to low 30s on Night 1, warming slightly into the upper 20s and mid-30s by the following night.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Knicks’ most clear advantage was going to be inside, with Towns the most likely candidate to feast in several areas.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Shadows and strange sounds can set imaginations whirring—from the guttural roar of a hunting lion to the giggling calls of a feasting hyena pack.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But Anderson is clearly amused, and has already made a number of pieces for the Mayers offspring (the children use their father’s surname).—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The thing that really amused me is that at the beginning of the process, Duncan had written this great adaptation and script.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gladden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gladden. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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