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
  • Zest has also been referred to as vitality, exuberance, and joie de vivre, the French phrase for the joy of living.
    — Joan M. Cook, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The resulting meatballs were moist, herby, spiced, seasoned, spicy and just a joy to eat.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of joy
Noun
  • The series will explore what constitutes happiness in different cultures and show the travelers — and viewers — different approaches to contentment.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Yet as related here in the low-key delivery of someone who not just survived but lived to be 101 years old, Jaku was able to enjoy the love, peace, contentment and security he was denied in his youth.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of contentment
Noun
  • And a high degree of social fitness contributes to a longer, healthier and more fulfilled life, according to an ongoing 88-year-old Harvard University happiness study.
    — Renée Onque, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
  • And the key to finding the joy and happiness balance is no more than 10 days away from my wife and kids.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of happiness
Noun
  • Complicating matters, one person’s cringe is another’s enjoyment.
    — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Separate research from Prudential Financial recently found that more than six in 10 retirees with at least $500,000 in investable assets do not feel comfortable spending money for enjoyment.
    — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of enjoyment
Noun
  • These novels are puzzles at their core, and using logic to solve the mystery before it’s revealed in the book is, to me, the main pleasure in reading them.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Stanton’s confession ends up being incomprehensible to anyone but himself—an irony that McCarthy, with his partiality for secret codes, seems to take great pleasure in.
    — Max Callimanopulos, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of pleasure
Noun
  • Zest contributes to life satisfaction among children, adolescents, and adults.
    — Joan M. Cook, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Are there different kinds of nursing homes that could be much more effective and efficient and also provide more satisfaction for people who are growing older?
    — John E. McDonough, STAT, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of satisfaction
Noun
  • First was comic and content creator, George Brett Olson, who did a breakdown (watch it below) accusing an AI Instagram account with 300,000 followers of seemingly ripped off his joke word for word.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026
  • SparkHub connects creator content to tracked sales inside its ShopBack app.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of content
Noun
  • Leaving aside the comics, tie-books, video games, and other ancillary delights of exploiting successful IP, there’s the Netflix show, of course.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Once a farrier's shop, Bygones Cocktail Bar, centered on a horseshoe bar, has romantic lighting, cocktails executed with joy and delight, and a laissez-faire atmosphere.
    — Leslie Pariseau, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 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 18 Oct. 2026.

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