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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in delight
a source of great satisfaction
my car is my pride and joy
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Lisa De Los Reyes, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2026
Some of the silence is protection of Black language and of Black joy.
—Literary Hub, 30 Mar. 2026
The joy of winning but really the despair and agony of losing.
—Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
There’s a lot of joy and pride in that surrounding community.
—Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for joy
Noun
Potente and McClarnon spoke about the joys of working with the actor, who is known for Gus Van Sant’s My Own Private Idaho, as well as collaborations with filmmakers Lars von Trier and Wim Wenders.
—Lisa De Los Reyes, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2026
Some of the silence is protection of Black language and of Black joy.
—Literary Hub, 30 Mar. 2026
The joy of winning but really the despair and agony of losing.
—Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
There’s a lot of joy and pride in that surrounding community.
—Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for joy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for joy
Noun
-
Even with the Hornets in the midst of one of the best stretches in franchise history and the city gravitating toward full-fledged acceptance and happiness, the test that stood before them was a beast.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
-
This focus on their past appeals to the story’s lowest hanging fruit, which is its sense of incipient tragedy, the foreclosure of the possibility for happiness.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Whether biennials or museum shows, exhibitions are spaces for learning about images, the world, and the pains and delights of being alive.—
Raphael Fonseca,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Marlowe and Shakespeare were just refreshers for me and also gave me a chance to act out monologues for my cellmates, much to their delight and confusion.—
Jeremy O. Harris,
Vanity Fair,
1 Apr. 2026
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
Noun
-
Lindy West’s new memoir, Adult Braces, ends with a portrait of unconventional domestic bliss.—
Tyler Austin Harper,
The Atlantic,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Juvenile bliss had long contoured this abrasive band, whose songs rattled like playgrounds, and whose shouts rang like the peals of petulant children.—
Samuel Hyland,
Pitchfork,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
While the morning invites a slower pace and simple pleasures, the Moon opposing chatty Mercury later can pull feelings and words in different directions.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The Leo moon tests your ability to lighten up when unexpected pleasures come knocking.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Boston ball club will look to take their first series win, after triumphing 3-0 on Opening Day Thursday.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The takeaway here is much more sobering than those of cinema’s other big animal fantasies, in which the hardworking mammalian protagonists tend to triumph over adversity.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Additions to the menu include alligator bites and sweet treats, including strawberry shortcake and turtle cheesecake, a decadent chocolate cake and, of course, beignets.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The new Strawberry Shortcake Kringle, inspired by the classic treat of the same name, features sweet cookie pieces and a special O&H signature made-from-scratch filling, topped with buttery streusel, sweet ice and pink chocolate curls.—
Adrienne Davis,
jsonline.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For one, gathering with the Sinulog Festival crowd in the vibrance of Cebu’s most popular feast is an experience like no other.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
-
But what is for certain is that this dish would make a great centerpiece to a big spring feast.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Joy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/joy. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
