happiness

noun

ˈha-pē-nəs How to pronounce happiness (audio)
Definition of happinessnext
1
as in joy
a feeling or state of well-being and contentment her happiness was complete when she got her very own house

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in contentment
the feeling experienced when one's wishes are met finally found true happiness as a doctor in a poor rural area

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in fitness
the quality or state of being especially suitable or fitting the striking happiness of the phrase "fatal attraction" as the title for an erotic thriller

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 happiness But that happiness wasn’t meant to last since the actual Vision was gone. — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026 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 One line in the film holds that every encounter with loneliness is the first step toward happiness. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026 Burnout and happiness are different questions Feeling satisfied with a job, however, doesn’t necessarily mean feeling well overall. — Christos Makridis, The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for happiness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for happiness
  1. joy
  2. contentment
  3. fitness
  4. bliss
  5. enjoyment
  6. relevance
  7. satisfaction
  8. usefulness
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
  • But, even for them, there are no guarantees their fitness will last a lifetime.
    — Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • And those striving for zest under these circumstances may benefit from assistance from a mental health professional like a psychologist, a physical health provider like a physician, or a personal trainer or fitness instructor.
    — Joan M. Cook, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of fitness
Noun
  • Her recent relapse, despite the secrecies and shame, was also a time of bliss.
    — James Wood, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of bliss
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
  • What comes next for liner jackets The lightweight build suits transitional seasons, which could stretch the style’s relevance into spring and well beyond 2026.
    — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The curators, David Breslin and Brinda Kumar, don’t accomplish this with appeals to timeliness or relevance but with a mighty selection of pieces—more than a hundred and twenty, from eighty-two different institutions—and smart exhibition design.
    — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of relevance
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
  • Their usefulness will depend on reliable navigation, robust fault responses and effective coordination between onboard systems.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Many conservationists argue that living species possess an inherent right to exist independent of their usefulness to human beings.
    — David Ginsburg, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of usefulness

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happily
happiness
happing
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Cite this Entry

“Happiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/happiness. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about happiness

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