as in ecstatic
experiencing or marked by overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion
the winner's exhilarated glow was seen in newspaper photographs around the globe
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in thrilled
to cause a pleasurable stimulation of the feelings
the exhilarating feeling of flying that hang gliding offers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in excited
to fill with great joy
the climactic moment of commencement ceremonies usually exhilarates graduates and proud parents alike
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of exhilarated
Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Dunk seems at once exhilarated and overwhelmed.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
To some extent, that’s what accounts for so much of the exhilarated anticipation around his return.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 13 Jan. 2026
The set dressing is messy and shadowy, and yet, performance-wise, Gaga has never seemed more exhilarated.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 22 Dec. 2025
Since signing to Matador, the band has sharpened its sound into a quirky, exhilarated alt-pop, too uncanny to be dance-punk and too lively to be slacker rock.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
That was the man who walked out smiling, a little overwhelmed but entirely calm, into the late afternoon Roman sunshine, to the roars of a stunned and exhilarated crowd.
—Anna Rowlands, Time, 12 May 2025
Walking into that pitch-black space, not seeing anything while having my eyes wide open exhilarated and frightened me.
—Jeryl Brunner, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
Unlike his exhilarated mother, Titus reacted neutrally.
—Jenna Russell, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2023
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Mar. 2026
Both essays make stark and rapid turns that defy traditional essay structure, moves that are destabilizing at the moment yet leave this reader exhilarated in the way Sloan circles back to her central concerns without ever settling for simple resolution.
—Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
With its riveting trombone and smashing rhythms, the music exhilarated.
—Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 27 Feb. 2026
Just take our word for it that Barbarian will leave you disturbed and exhilarated in equal measure.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Feb. 2026
So in my early and mid-20s, I was still exhilarated by just being free and alone in the world, and traveling, which agreed with me.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 11 Dec. 2025
Jen is exhilarated and ready to salsa her tuchis off, postpartum logistics be damned.
—Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025
Adjective
Dowling felt exhilarated and elated to see his pupil on top of the podium.
—Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Dunk seems at once exhilarated and overwhelmed.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
To some extent, that’s what accounts for so much of the exhilarated anticipation around his return.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 13 Jan. 2026
The set dressing is messy and shadowy, and yet, performance-wise, Gaga has never seemed more exhilarated.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 22 Dec. 2025
Since signing to Matador, the band has sharpened its sound into a quirky, exhilarated alt-pop, too uncanny to be dance-punk and too lively to be slacker rock.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
That was the man who walked out smiling, a little overwhelmed but entirely calm, into the late afternoon Roman sunshine, to the roars of a stunned and exhilarated crowd.
—Anna Rowlands, Time, 12 May 2025
Walking into that pitch-black space, not seeing anything while having my eyes wide open exhilarated and frightened me.
—Jeryl Brunner, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
Unlike his exhilarated mother, Titus reacted neutrally.
—Jenna Russell, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2023
Verb
They are inspired by the stories of ancient cultures, captivated by the serenity of nature's wonders, and exhilarated by the excitement of encountering wildlife in their natural habitats.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Mar. 2026
Both essays make stark and rapid turns that defy traditional essay structure, moves that are destabilizing at the moment yet leave this reader exhilarated in the way Sloan circles back to her central concerns without ever settling for simple resolution.
—Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
With its riveting trombone and smashing rhythms, the music exhilarated.
—Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 27 Feb. 2026
Just take our word for it that Barbarian will leave you disturbed and exhilarated in equal measure.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Feb. 2026
So in my early and mid-20s, I was still exhilarated by just being free and alone in the world, and traveling, which agreed with me.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 11 Dec. 2025
Jen is exhilarated and ready to salsa her tuchis off, postpartum logistics be damned.
—Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exhilarated
Adjective
-
The Italian experimentalist goes absolutely haywire on a very overwhelming, very fun half-hour of ecstatic avant metal.—
Sam Goldner,
Pitchfork,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Ilia Malinin might have just gone public with his new girlfriend, and his fans aren't too ecstatic about the relationship.—
Tyler Erzberger,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Fabati's said they were thrilled to be able to see the team nearby.—
Dillon Thomas,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Lendeborg was not exactly thrilled with the relocation plan, but far away from home and far away from his mom, he finally was left to make the right choices on his own – to go to class, to go to practice, to work and apply himself.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The team is excited by Thornton, who made the team as an undrafted rookie last season.—
Mike Kaye
March 26,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
-
My granddaughter was accepted and excited about going to Loyola University.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Lanzone, 55, finally got his chance after the private equity firm Apollo Global Management paid $5 billion to take over Yahoo in September 2021 — a fraction of its peak $125 billion market value reached during the dot-com boom’s giddy days in early 2000.—
Michael Liedtke,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The Braves have every reason to feel giddy about their latest Sale investment.—
Gabriel Burns,
AJC.com,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The man who once electrified golf fans around the world is picking up the pieces from yet another mess he’s made.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The man who once electrified golf fans around the world is picking up the pieces from yet another mess he’s made.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The debate within the Democratic coalition is already bigger and louder, dividing moderates in swing states from progressives elated by Mamdani's rocket to victory in the nation's largest city.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Around them, a dozen children sunk into their parents’ laps — giggling, wriggling and delighted by the story.—
Jessica Ma,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Two weeks before Quinn and Jack Hughes joined Storrie for his opening monologue on Saturday Night Live, many Heated Rivalry fans would have been delighted by the collision of two worlds.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But Glosson is pleased her friend's contributions are being honored.—
Alyssa N. Salcedo,
jsonline.com,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The new, and more expensive, XDR model goes a bit further with mini-LED backlighting, better contrasting and dimming zones, and an improved 120Hz refresh rate (the standard edition is capped at 60Hz) — an update Apple gamers and HDR lovers should be pleased by.—
Shawn Chen,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exhilarated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exhilarated. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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