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gladsome

gladsome

1 9.0
Feeling happy and cheerful
  • adjective
  • /ˈɡlæd.səm/
  • Archaic
: alegre
  • The day was like an oven on broil—another day from the less gladsome verses of the Old Testament.

Examples

  • The sun shone brightly, creating a gladsome atmosphere in the park.

  • So gladsome and lovely.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The old woman's crafty eyes lit with greed, gladsome.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Whose flash illumines whatsoe'er it hits in solemn discourse or in gladsome song?

    Blog text (16)
  • He called the red-breasted robin a "ruddock"; the sweetly singing thrush a "gladsome mavis."

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The songs of silver-tailed sirens from the distant reefs, the high, wild, gladsome pipes of Faerie that partnered us in our moonlight dances!

    Fiction book (2000)
  • The children played outside, filling the air with their gladsome laughter.

  • She felt a gladsome sense of relief when she finally passed her exam.

Synonyms

happy
vsgladsome
∞ 1.0

Feeling pleased and content

is slightly more formal and poetic in tone
glad
vsgladsome
∞ 1.0

Feeling pleased or happy about something

is the broader sense of feeling cheerful and joyous
pleased
vsgladsome
693 1.0

Feeling happy or satisfied about something

expresses overall joy rather than specific satisfaction
thrilled
vsgladsome
383 2.3

Feeling very excited and happy

is steady joy rather than a sudden excited feeling
blessed
vsgladsome
276 2.3

Feeling lucky and happy about something

is simple joy not tied to feeling specially fortunate
delighted
vsgladsome
228 1.0

Feeling very happy about something good

is a general joyful feeling without extra intensity
jolly
vsgladsome
100 1.0

Happy and lively in a friendly way

is a calmer, purely joyful feeling without lively humour
cheerful
vsgladsome
99 1.0

Happy in a way you show with a smile or friendly actions

is the basic inner feeling of joy without specific attitude
joyful
vsgladsome
73 1.0

Feeling or showing great happiness

is a milder, general feeling of cheer and joy
ecstatic
vsgladsome
61 4.5

Feeling very happy and excited

is a calmer, controlled sense of cheer and joy
joyous
vsgladsome
56 1.8

Feeling very happy and showing it

is a simple feeling of cheer without celebration
overjoyed
vsgladsome
29 2.1

Feeling very happy and excited about something good

is a moderate joyful feeling without overwhelming intensity
elated
vsgladsome
28 4.0

Feeling very happy and excited because of good news or success

is general happiness not tied to specific success
blissful
vsgladsome
22 3.3

Very happy and free from worry

is lively cheer rather than deep, restful happiness
beaming
vsgladsome
13 2.5

Smiling very widely and looking clearly happy

captures general cheerful feeling even without a visible smile
gleeful
vsgladsome
11 1.2

Very happy and excited in a playful way

is steadier cheer rather than lively high spirits
ebullient
vsgladsome
6 8.2

Very lively and full of energy

is moderate cheer without the energetic, overflowing quality
happy as a lark
vsgladsome
  • Informal
1 5.5

Feeling very pleased and excited

is joyful but not necessarily extreme or very high
mirthful
vsgladsome
1 6.3

Full of joy and laughter

is about feeling happy rather than showing amusement
beamish
vsgladsome
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Smiling brightly because you feel happy

is common joyful feeling without literary or radiant tone
best pleased
vsgladsome
1 1.7

Feeling very happy about something

is the steady joyful feeling not tied to one cause
in a jolly mood
vsgladsome
1 2.8

Feeling happy and cheerful

is the general state of joy beyond a single mood
as happy as a jaybird
vsgladsome
  • Informal
7.5

Feeling very pleased and full of joy

is plain joyful feeling without colorful expressions

Antonyms

416 1.8

Feeling very unhappy or suffering a lot

14 3.6

Feeling very sad because of loss or disappointment

How Happy

ecstatic
61 4.5
elated
28 4.0
joyful
73 1.0
gladsome
  • Archaic
1 9.0
cheerful
99 1.0

Surface Forms

gladsome positive

Morphology

gladsome = glad (transparent) = glad + some

Meaning is directly derived from 'glad' + the adjectival suffix '-some' indicating 'characterized by gladness'; the formation is straightforward though the word is somewhat archaic.

Etymology

Gladsome comes from glad ('happy') and the old ending -some ('full of'), as in wholesome. So gladsome means 'full of joy' or cheerful.