as in comforting
making one feel good inside
the overdue change to warm, sunny weather is gladdening
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in pleasing
to give satisfaction to
it would gladden me to hear you sing again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gladdening
Adjective
-
Whether for the potluck, the cookout, or a Wednesday night dinner with your family, these Southern side dishes are comforting, easy, and crowd-pleasing.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
9 Nov. 2025 -
In those cases, soft lighting, quiet music, or a comforting scent can make the space feel safer.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Thanksgiving is the perfect time to break out the baking dishes and make one of our many crowd-pleasing casserole recipes.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Propheter notes that Denver has a simple, if costly, option for pleasing bondholders.—
Justin Wingerter,
Denver Post,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
That’s two straight encouraging performances from Lopez, who went 15-for-19 for 216 yards and two touchdowns against Syracuse.—
Justin Williams,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Amazingly, Exposure contestants go through hours of practice and performance each day without ever seeming to tire, and along with the competitive spirit, there’s a real sense of community, with skaters constantly encouraging, applauding, and appreciating each other.—
Lonnie Burstein Hewitt,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
With just 24 hours before a party, 31-year-old Maïlys Lecaillier from Pas-de-Calais transformed everyday items into a hilariously lifelike ostrich costume that’s now delighting TikTok.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Gen Alpha’s latest viral catchphrase is baffling adults and delighting kids across the country.—
Kimberly Richardson,
CNN Money,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Musically, Lee took on the air of a woman revealing intimate truths about herself one year at a time, shedding layers as a way of rewarding patience with honesty, no matter how brutal.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Cheney received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1991 and later described his time at the Pentagon as the most rewarding period of his public service career.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
This recipe is the ultimate creamy and satisfying comfort food.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
8 Nov. 2025
-
One beneficiary may be the Catalan-language itself, also satisfying a yearning for authenticity, which is proving a major lure of both films and series.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Want a new career that’s higher-paying, more flexible or fulfilling?—
Megan Sauer,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
-
If a job ends, keep your eyes open for a more fulfilling path.—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
1 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Fossil fuel production is still increasing, driving up planet-warming pollution; the United States is in climate denial mode; and turbulent geopolitics have pushed the climate crisis down the agenda and into the culture wars.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The season transforms the city’s historic streets into something out of a snow globe—brick row houses dusted in white, gas lamps flickering through the early dusk, and the smell of soul-warming seafood chowder drifting from restaurants in the Seaport area.—
Mark Ellwood,
AFAR Media,
7 Nov. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Gladdening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gladdening. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share