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
-
Cheesy drop biscuits make your typical chicken pot pie even more comforting.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
16 Feb. 2026 -
This is the kind of creamy, comforting casserole that’s been quietly holding a spot on family dinner tables for generations.—
Maggie Meyer Glisan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And no matter how formal or casual the gathering, every host is always looking for an easy, crowd-pleasing appetizer to start the party.—
Krissy Tiglias,
Southern Living,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Ted Cruz certainly doesn’t care about pleasing everyone, and Billie Eilish and a whole bunch of musicians now clearly don’t either.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Known for his playmaking and point guard skills when the Heat drafted Jakucionis with the 20th overall pick last year, his three-point shooting has been encouraging, albeit at a low volume because of his limited minutes.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
11 Feb. 2026
-
What’s been most encouraging is who’s leaning in.—
Brent Saunders,
Fortune,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Thanks to the Muppets’ film franchise and the wonders of YouTube, the wacky gang is still delighting, and expanding, its fan base.—
Jared Bahir Browsh,
Fortune,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Church’s has been delighting customers since 1952, when the first location opened in San Antonio.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Righteous, rewarding, wonderful, grueling work.—
Heidi Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Morrison’s writing functions on many levels; her surfaces can be as rewarding as her depths.—
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
And Gu’s defense of her 2019 decision, while satisfying few stateside, has never really changed.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But the decisions made from the soul are usually pretty fulfilling.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Filming in the Mindscape and everything with Holly was all so fulfilling, but also so different from what I was used to with the show.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Climate change and warming oceans could potentially be driving sharks to the Southern Hemisphere’s colder waters, but there was limited data on range changes near Antarctica because of the region’s remoteness, Kyne said.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
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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
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Cite this Entry
“Gladdening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gladdening. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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