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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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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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
Yinka Ilori’s ‘Chairman‘ Yinka Ilori, the British Nigerian multidisciplinary artist, designer and entrepreneur known for striking prints and designs that spark joy, has published his first monograph. — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026 And after Flaco the Eurasian eagle-owl died in 2024, dozens of mournful fans gathered to say goodbye to the beloved creature who flew around Manhattan and became a joy to many after someone let him out of his zoo enclosure the previous year. — ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026 After Flaco the Eurasian eagle-owl died in 2024, dozens of mournful fans gathered to say goodbye to the beloved creature who flew around Manhattan and became a joy to many after someone let him out of his zoo enclosure the previous year. — Joseph B. Frederick, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026 Derbez, who recently concluded his popular Apple TV series Acapulco after four seasons, also shared his joy in celebrating all the nominees. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 14 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
  • 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
  • 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
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
  • In the song, Swift apologizes to an ex for neglecting his feelings, comparing the bliss of a rebound relationship to the excitement of drug users post-withdrawal in recovery, where the term in the title originates.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
  • For best results, pair the below bad boys with a specialized orthotic insert that will further amplify your podiatric bliss.
    — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of bliss
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
Verb
  • But inside, Sweeney’s vision triumphed over Wright’s, who, despite many passionate memos, was unable to convince Harry to interfere.
    — Wendy S. Walters, Architectural Digest, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The ten 8-10’ stand-alone episodes use cerebral, high-concept horror to tell stories about African women who triumph, overcome and subvert in surprising ways.
    — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of triumph
Noun
  • While consistency in taste keeps people coming back for more of their delicious treats, there are some exciting changes this year.
    — Morgan Rynor, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Founded by Victor and Stacey Garcia, Sol Dias serves authentic Mexican treats like ice cream, ice pops, sorbets and churros.
    — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of treat
Noun
  • That Cantonese feast in San Francisco burned this worldview into my childhood brain.
    — Daniel Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
  • From Cantonese dishes at Yi by Marco Pierre White to Italian food at Macellaio RC, be prepared for an indulgent feast.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 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 18 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on joy

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about joy

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