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 There’s joy, there’s music, there’s magically regenerating food, trees that flower and fruit at the same time, piles of treasure, crystals that rain from the sky, everlasting happiness and health. — Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026 That song is a jealousy of other people’s happiness or well-adjustedness. — Julius Miller, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026 For the Colombian artist, freedom and happiness are essential parts of success. — Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 21 Oct. 2026 O’Toole and Chiasson talk about Bernie Sanders’s early embrace of public media, his commitment to labor, and his lifelong emphasis on the pursuit of happiness as a political goal. — Dan Chiasson, The New York Review of Books, 20 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
  • Children crowded the play areas, despite the damp, gray weather, shrieking with joy (and in one instance, crying).
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Italians are fed energetically with the sustenance of beauty, ease, and joy.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of joy
Noun
  • Spates of them appear every couple of years, often inspired by surveys of financial contentment like Goldman’s.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of contentment
Noun
  • There is no wellness experience too niche for the center which offers a hair salon, nail bar, yoga studio, fitness room and Pilates classes with the hip boutique studio The Beat, opening onto a panoramic terrace.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The Nevada Independent reports that Lombardo’s campaign has used those issues to question Ford’s fitness, while Ford says the clemency matter followed procedure and disputes the criticism.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of fitness
Noun
  • This sets up a stark contrast between their bliss and the matrimonial drudgery the townspeople endure.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Her recent relapse, despite the secrecies and shame, was also a time of bliss.
    — James Wood, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of bliss
Noun
  • In a Harris Poll survey published Wednesday, 65% of American adults reported spending $100 or more on playful activities or products — such as craft kits or action figures — for personal enjoyment between June 2025 and June 2026.
    — Renée Onque, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
  • My enjoyment now came from sitting back and watching her shine.
    — Diana Daniele, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of enjoyment
Noun
  • For nearly six decades, the retailer has helped define American style through distinctive design, storytelling, cultural relevance and an understanding of how people express themselves.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Since retaking the pitch in 2018-19, Belenenses has clawed its way back to relevance, winning five consecutive promotions.
    — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of relevance
Noun
  • As much an acknowledgment of survival as a rallying cry, the song draws out sadness as well as satisfaction from the audience.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Correspondence files can be mined for service failures—moments where the company’s response didn’t match the member’s need—that predict attrition much more accurately than any customer satisfaction survey.
    — Amanda Turcotte, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of satisfaction
Noun
  • She is driven by the belief that animals deserve happiness and love and that their lifespan should, in no way, depend on their usefulness to humans.
    — Lisa Hughes, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Menopause affects people differently, and the usefulness of a change depends on both the individual and the job.
    — Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of usefulness

Browse Nearby Words

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 29 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about happiness

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