joy
13 synonyms and 0 antonyms for joy, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A feeling of great happiness or delight.
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.
How to use joy
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French joie, from Latin gaudium ("joy"), from gaudēre ("to rejoice, be glad").
Full origin of joy →Frequently asked questions
What does “joy” mean?
The word “joy” means a feeling of great happiness or delight. In plain terms, deep happiness or delight, or something/someone that causes it.
How do you pronounce “joy”?
“Joy” is pronounced joy (/d͡ʒɔɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “joy” in a sentence?
Here is “joy” used in a sentence: “Her face lit up with joy when she saw the surprise party.”
What part of speech is “joy”?
Depending on how it is used, “joy” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “joy” come from?
The word “joy” comes from Latin. From Old French joie, from Latin gaudium ("joy"), from gaudēre ("to rejoice, be glad").
Is “joy” a common word?
“Joy” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “joy” have?
“Joy” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a feeling of great happiness or delight.
What is the difference between joy and happiness?
Happiness is often a response to pleasant circumstances and can come and go with them. Joy tends to run deeper and feel more lasting, a strong sense of delight that does not always depend on what is happening around you. The two are close, which is why they are so often used interchangeably.
What is the opposite of joy?
The opposites of joy are feelings such as sorrow, grief, and misery. Where joy is a surge of happiness and delight, these describe deep sadness or unhappiness. Milder opposites include gloom and dejection. The right choice depends on how intense the contrasting feeling is meant to be.
Is joy an emotion?
Yes. Joy is widely regarded as one of the basic human emotions, marked by a strong feeling of happiness, pleasure, and delight. It often shows outwardly through smiling, laughter, and a sense of lightness. Unlike a passing mood, joy can be intense and deeply felt, whether sparked by an event or welling up on its own.