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
Relevance
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
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
Noun
-
Still, there’s no denying the sheer joy baked into the production.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Finding joy through everyday activities, like calling a friend, trying a new hobby, or going for a walk, is not only good for our bodies and minds at the moment but also for our overall well-being.—
Alexa Mikhail,
Flow Space,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There was no sign of contentment.—
Adam Lichtenstein,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Your 4th House of Protection hosts contentment-seeking Venus, encouraging you to take comfort in your private world.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Though her character finds romantic happiness with Will Schuester, her role grew smaller as the actress pursued opportunities on series like The Millers and The League.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Another close-up shot reflected his happiness, as he could be seen smiling widely at the camera with palm trees behind him.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For Selva, that information only enhances the enjoyment of a purchase.—
Laurie Brookins,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Apr. 2026
-
My enjoyment was always hampered by trying to manipulate and enlarge the grid.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The body is not a source of strength or pleasure or play but a site from which to grab as much power as one can and hold on to it for dear life.—
Naomi Fry,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2026
-
And a prior production at Court Theatre made much more of the beauty of the changing of campus seasons, one of the ways Auburn gets at the nourishing pleasures of an academic life.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In these cases resolved by accord and satisfaction, if the prosecution were to object and go against the victim’s wishes, the government would not have a cooperating witness.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Apr. 2026
-
That’s what really brings me satisfaction in making art.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Many of the same tools and principles that make content accessible also boost visibility—when they’re used intentionally.—
Rochelle Ratkaj,
Rolling Stone,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The Odyssey actress shared content of her busy day in New York filled with press runs and tagged her designer looks on Instagram Stories.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Reupping your Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter is more of a delight than a slog, and the refills are pretty enough to sit on the shelf at Sephora or be featured in an influencer’s product flatlay.—
Kara McGrath,
Allure,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Endlessly Quotable • Peak Patinkin There are few films with a higher delight-to-runtime ratio than The Princess Bride.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gladness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gladness. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
