JOY Synonyms: 121 Similar and Opposite Words

joy 1 of 2

noun

ˈjȯi

Definition of joy

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in delight

a source of great satisfaction my car is my pride and joy

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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 joy

Noun

My job is to give people joy and entertain them and take them away from, frankly, at the moment, some of the misery of life, where they can get lost in the live gig for two hours. — Katie Bain, Billboard, 27 Aug. 2026 What an unbelievable joy to have shared a sound stage with him and to engage with such a master talent. — Selome Hailu, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026 Her joy at having another child was quickly punctured by grief, as her 20-year-old son, Daniel, died suddenly three days later while visiting his mother and newborn half-sister in the hospital. — Imani Sumbi, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Aug. 2026 However, those luxuries aren’t what respondents said bring them the most joy. — Rachel Barber, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for joy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for joy

Noun

Research has even found a positive relationship between higher income and reported happiness.

— True Tamplin, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Being single again felt like a step backward, further away than ever from happiness.

— Andrea Javor, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of happiness

Noun

Seeing ominous vines twist to life on towering trees, or watching the Cheshire Cat materialize through the woodland setting, is always a delight.

— Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
And the vongole, an instant take on the famous clam pasta, is an unexpected delight.

— Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 Aug. 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

And between now and then, thinking back to the bliss of your stay, with all of its special touches, exemplary food, and nearly clairvoyant service.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026
Lauren Cohan reacts to the big smooch, and if this means romantic bliss for Maggie moving forward.

— Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of bliss

Noun

Bad as this world feels, there’s still pleasure in making art.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
The speaker of the House appoints the House parliamentarian; the Senate parliamentarian serves at the pleasure of the secretary of the Senate, who is elected by senators at the start of each Congress.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of pleasure

Verb

Thiel and his allies haven’t fully triumphed yet, though, as indicated by the recent surge in public opposition to data centers.

— The Week US, TheWeek, 2 Sep. 2026
Taylor Swift has been through her own battles to regain control of her mastertapes, but ultimately triumphed.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of triumph

Noun

The salt flats are a big, unwieldy space to navigate, but the feeling of getting lost on them (with a guide who knows their way perfectly) is a real treat.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026
While the kids recharged with treats from the big, custom number three piñata, adults did the same with coffee from The Garden Coffee Co.

— Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of treat

Noun

Big Fish Tim Burton’s 2003 adaptation of the novel of the same name is a visual feast and ideal for teens who like fantasy and fairytales.

— Kara Nesvig, Parents, 29 Aug. 2026
The feast that King and his colleagues studied dates to two centuries before Etowah’s heyday, during the building of the first big platform mound.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of feast

Browse Nearby Words

jovially

joy

joyed

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Cite this Entry

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“Joy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/joy. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of joy

noun

verb

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