ebullient
7 synonyms and 6 antonyms for ebullient, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Cheerful, lively and openly full of energy and enthusiasm.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adjective
Cheerful, lively and openly full of energy and enthusiasm.
“He arrived in ebullient mood, hugging everyone in the room.”
Opposites
How to use ebullient
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
ebullient mood
ebullient personality
ebullient crowd
irrepressibly ebullient
Formal or literary; common in profile writing and journalism.
Etymology
From Latin ebullire 'to boil up', from e- 'out' and bullire 'to boil' — the same root as 'boil'.
Full origin of ebullient →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ebullient and exuberant?
Both mean overflowing with high spirits, and they are often interchangeable. Ebullient leans towards a bubbling, irrepressible mood that keeps breaking out, while exuberant leans towards abundant energy or growth — you can have exuberant foliage but not ebullient foliage.
How do you pronounce ebullient?
Say i-BULL-yuhnt, with the stress on the second syllable and 'bull' as in the animal. The variant i-BYOO-lee-uhnt is also heard, especially in American English.
Is ebullient a compliment?
Generally yes — it describes someone warm, energetic and good company. It can tip into mild criticism if the context suggests the person is too loud or too much for the occasion.
