joy 1 of 2

noun

ˈjȯi How to pronounce joy (audio)
Definition of joynext
1
as in happiness
a feeling or state of well-being and contentment the inexpressible joy that the couple are feeling upon the birth of their first child

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in delight
a source of great satisfaction my car is my pride and joy

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joy

2 of 2

verb

as in to delight
to feel or express joy or triumph the whole town is joying in the fact that its oldest church has been restored to its Victorian splendor

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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 joy
Noun
As their connection grows, each of them helps give the other the courage to step outside their comfort zones and find new joy — and possibly love — in unexpected ways. — Rachel Labonte, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2026 While the more pivotal changes are rearranging your life, take November as an opportunity to embrace what brings you joy. — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Oct. 2026 Thank you for being our friend and for sharing your brilliance, joy, and kindness with the world. — Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2026 Decades after the show first launched, Stewart said the deep passion that fans carried for the series continued to bring him joy. — Sara Spary, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for joy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for joy
  1. happiness
  2. delight
  3. glory
  4. bliss
  5. pleasure
  6. triumph
  7. treat
  8. feast
Noun
  • But the stand-alone fragment, in the seeming spirit of Franz Kafka’s surreal and unsettling fiction, links success to misery, and happiness to death.
    — Robert S. Levine, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Buffett’s view is supported by research that shows that people with supportive spouses tend to take on more rewarding challenges throughout their lives, and end up having more personal growth and happiness.
    — Shayla Love, Vox, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of happiness
Noun
  • Wesley Fofana missed what proved to be the final kick of the shootout, smashing it well over the crossbar and into The Kop at Anfield as Liverpool fans roared in delight.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Dimensional, smooth, and an absolute delight to look at, calf hair also brings with it the benefit of longevity, meaning the Coach handbags above are guaranteed to stay in tip-top shape for years (if not decades) on end.
    — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of delight
Verb
  • Messi, at 35, led his country to glory against France, winning soccer’s ultimate prize in a pulsating match that finished 3-3 after extra time and had to be settled by a nerve-wracking penalty shootout.
    — Patrick Smith, NBC News, 19 Dec. 2022
  • If Harris can bring together a family with Indian, African, and Jewish heritage, America can glory in its diversity.
    — Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books, 26 Aug. 2020
Definition of glory
Noun
  • This sets up a stark contrast between their bliss and the matrimonial drudgery the townspeople endure.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Her recent relapse, despite the secrecies and shame, was also a time of bliss.
    — James Wood, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of bliss
Noun
  • That instinct to preserve some special purchases in spite of pressure from higher prices reflects a kind of little treat economy, when consumers splurge on smaller pleasures even if they’re squeezed by costs.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The afternoons are great for small pleasures but not at all suitable for a potentially deciding championship game in a billion-dollar sports league.
    — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of pleasure
Verb
  • Lula erased much of Bolsonaro’s gains by winning in the Northeast and also triumphed in the North, the region that includes the Amazon rainforest.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Bethune has also triumphed through injuries throughout her career.
    — PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of triumph
Noun
  • It's filled with favorite foods, drinks and treats — from Mexican Coke to Ecuadorian sodas — honoring people as individuals.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Pack a Wilder Townhouse basket of treats to take with you for a picnic.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of treat
Noun
  • Just a little advance planning and plenty of time to focus on sweet potatoes, apple pie, and the rest of your Thanksgiving feast.
    — Alton Brown, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Nominally this was a Christian feast day of Saint Brigid, patron saint of poetry and lambing, who was said to have lived in Ireland in the late fifth century.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of feast

Browse Nearby Words

jovially
joy
joyed
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Cite this Entry

“Joy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/joy. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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