GLADDEN Synonyms: 87 Similar and Opposite Words

gladden

verb

ˈgla-dᵊn

Definition of gladden

as in to delight

to give satisfaction to it would gladden me to hear you sing again

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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 gladden But there’s something reliably gladdening about sitting down with a warm bowl that promises to nourish. — Karen Yuan, Bon Appétit, 1 Feb. 2025 But there’s something genuinely gladdening to take away from this inquiry into the modern media. — Jason Linkins, The New Republic, 18 Feb. 2023 The word from Washington is sure to gladden the Newsom campaign. — Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2021 Even a dead beaver, with its buck teeth sticking out of its decomposing skull, seemed to gladden Balken. — Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2021 That turnaround is sure to gladden the hearts of Republicans, who have no hope of controlling the White House without Texas. — Todd J. Gillman, Dallas News, 6 Sep. 2020

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gladden

Verb

There are other niceties too, like room for luminous tritium vials on a spinning module that should delight eager fidgeters, and the SceptriX's ability to strike up a spark with a separate ferro rod and light a fire.

— Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 19 Oct. 2026
Those would prove to be the final points the Jayhawks’ offense produced in a 35-24 loss to the Wildcats, a result that delighted the K-State faithful who had booed Edwards during the contest.

— Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of delight

Verb

But all that warm, crowd-pleasing material is incongruously, fascinatingly, and not so comfortably fitted inside a story about great loss.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
And for options that can please any giftee on your list, check out gourmet food calendars filled with decadent chocolates, loose-leaf teas, jams and jellies, and more.

— Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of please

Verb

In true dump cake style, add all ingredients to create a pumpkin filling and top with boxed yellow cake mix and butter to create a warm, satisfying dessert that’s perfect for holidays and weeknights.

— Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2026
The salty bacon and fluffy eggs formed that classic breakfast flavor, while the potatoes added a satisfying heartiness without weighing the taco down.

— Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of satisfy

Verb

Patrons return regularly to feast on distinct dishes like steak tartare pizza, bone-in pork chop, and roasted duck in the Western, log-cabin-esque dining room with a deep sense of place.

— Lindsay Cohn, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
The severity of their exposure was corroborated by the short life of cats, who feasted on the factory’s omnipresent rodents.

— Wendy S. Walters, Architectural Digest, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of feast

Verb

Iowa’s roughly 900,000 cyclists, many of whom have participated in an annual cycling tour that’s made the state synonymous with biking, weren’t amused.

— Washington Post, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2026
Commenters seem amused by the apparent gaffe and have chosen to convey their feelings through a plethora of puns, jokes and memes.

— Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of amuse

Browse Nearby Words

gladded

gladden

gladdened

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“Gladden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gladden. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of gladden

verb

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