ecstasy
12 synonyms and 5 antonyms for ecstasy, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A feeling of intense joy or pleasure, often so strong it overwhelms rational thought.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
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.
Antonyms
How to use ecstasy
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
pure ecstasy
in ecstasy
a state of ecstasy
Etymology
From Greek ékstasis, "displacement" or "trance," from existēmi — ek- ("out") plus histēmi ("to stand") — the sense of being so overcome with feeling that you're "standing outside" yourself.
Full origin of ecstasy →Frequently asked questions
What does “ecstasy” mean?
The word “ecstasy” means a feeling of intense joy or pleasure, often so strong it overwhelms rational thought. In plain terms, overwhelming joy or delight — or, as a separate meaning, the street name for the drug MDMA.
How do you pronounce “ecstasy”?
“Ecstasy” is pronounced EHKS-tuh-see (/ˈɛkstəsi/ in IPA).
How do you use “ecstasy” in a sentence?
Here is “ecstasy” used in a sentence: “She screamed in ecstasy when she saw her name on the winners' list.”
What part of speech is “ecstasy”?
“Ecstasy” is a noun.
Where does the word “ecstasy” come from?
The word “ecstasy” comes from Greek. From Greek ékstasis, "displacement" or "trance," from existēmi — ek- ("out") plus histēmi ("to stand") — the sense of being so overcome with feeling that you're "standing outside" yourself.
Is “ecstasy” a common word?
“Ecstasy” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “ecstasy” have?
“Ecstasy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a feeling of intense joy or pleasure, often so strong it overwhelms rational thought.
