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gladness

noun

Definition of gladnessnext
1
as in joy
a feeling or state of well-being and contentment felt nothing but gladness at seeing her best friend beat her out for the award

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in contentment
the feeling experienced when one's wishes are met the children's gladness was evident as they opened their Christmas presents

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 gladness May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you. — Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 17 Mar. 2026 Hazel shrugged, but Lilian could see her gladness at being asked. — Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026 Over time in Middle English, myrth(e) narrowed to mean joy, amusement, or gladness, often expressed in laughter and festivity. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gladness
  1. joy
  2. contentment
  3. happiness
  4. enjoyment
  5. pleasure
  6. satisfaction
  7. content
  8. delight
Noun
  • The resulting feature centers on the challenges, joys and intimate journeys of being born with a body outside the physical definitions of male or female, explored through the lives of intersex individuals in India, Brazil and the United States.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The preview ends with a heart-swelling image of Osbourne smiling and squirming with joy in his throne.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of joy
Noun
  • The Straits of Florida glisten and the sun leaves a feeling of hazy contentment.
    — Oliver Wu, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Being alone and posting about her journey ultimately helped Hoadley find contentment in her life.
    — Amen Galinato, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of contentment
Noun
  • Vacation photos emphasize happiness even when the experience was stressful.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Love is actually heartbreak, pain, anguish, but the myth of love is happiness and joy.
    — Norah O'Donnell, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of happiness
Noun
  • Betr is helping our enjoyment with an offer of $200 in bonus bets to use on MLB or NFL Week 3 with promo code FOXNEWS.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • In a Tinley Park concert with openers Megadeth, Iron Maiden had the kind of chemistry that shows its members still get immense enjoyment from playing together.
    — Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of enjoyment
Noun
  • With all that said, there are still a lot of pleasures in this production that remain failsafe, even after the ride toward a way-too-inevitable outcome is firmly on its tracks.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Ultimately, Taylor’s journey was a lesson in how simple pleasures are often the most enduring souvenirs—internal keepsakes that linger long after the last bag is unpacked.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of pleasure
Noun
  • Rice, the most physical of the Chiefs’ receivers at 204 pounds, has taken a measure of satisfaction in this part of the game.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Perhaps most importantly, staff satisfaction often improves when technology works with them—not against them.
    — Sameer Bhat, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of satisfaction
Noun
  • Yet after years of calls for tech and ISPs to take a greater responsibility to curb infringement, the legislation would be a new tool for studios, producers and other content creators to curb piracy.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Blitz will support research and content workflows across the Aggies’ football and basketball programs.
    — Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of content
Noun
  • Cranston leaned into the theatrics, drilling into the bone to the delight of onlookers.
    — Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026
  • His band turned the song into a headbanger’s delight; Jay remained steady and regal over the crunching guitar chords and cathartic drum kicks.
    — Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of delight

Browse Nearby Words

gladly
gladness
glad rags
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Cite this Entry

“Gladness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gladness. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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