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infectious joy

infectious joy

4.4
A strong happiness that spreads to others and makes them smile
  • noun
translation icon : alegría contagiosa
  • As the choir sang, their infectious joy spread through the audience, lifting everyone's spirits.

Examples

  • The children's infectious joy made everyone at the party smile and laugh along with them.

  • "Tia laughed out loud, a peal of infectious joy."

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Her infectious joy was evident as she danced, making everyone around her want to join in the celebration.

Synonyms

joy
vsinfectious joy
793 1.0

A strong feeling of great happiness

spreads happiness to other people
excitement
vsinfectious joy
434 1.0

A strong feeling of happiness and eagerness, or something that causes it

spreads happiness to other people
enthusiasm
vsinfectious joy
288 2.2

A strong feeling of excitement and interest in something

spreads happiness to other people
amusement
vsinfectious joy
65 1.2

A feeling of pleasure when something makes you laugh

spreads happiness to other people
exuberance
vsinfectious joy
27 6.7

A feeling of strong, happy energy and excitement

spreads happiness to other people
elation
vsinfectious joy
18 5.5

A very happy and excited feeling after a big success

spreads happiness to other people
exhilaration
vsinfectious joy
17 5.8

A strong, happy feeling of excitement

spreads happiness to other people
jubilation
vsinfectious joy
11 5.2

A strong feeling of happiness and excitement during a celebration

spreads happiness to other people
gladness
vsinfectious joy
9 1.0

A feeling of being happy and pleased

spreads happiness to other people
rejoicing
vsinfectious joy
6 2.8

Great joy and celebration after good news or success

spreads happiness to other people
exultation
vsinfectious joy
  • Formal
3 7.9

A strong feeling of great joy often shown by loud shouts

spreads happiness to other people
ebullience
vsinfectious joy
1 8.5

A feeling of cheerful, lively energy that people show

spreads happiness to other people
joyfulness
vsinfectious joy
1 2.0

A strong feeling of happiness and excitement

spreads happiness to other people
jubilance
vsinfectious joy
1 6.5

A strong feeling of great joy that people show openly

spreads happiness to other people
joyousness
vsinfectious joy
1 3.0

A strong feeling of great happiness

spreads happiness to other people
palpable excitement
vsinfectious joy
1 4.6

A strong feeling of eager energy you can almost feel

spreads happiness to other people
contagious enthusiasm
vsinfectious joy
3.8

Strong excitement that makes other people feel excited too

spreads happiness to other people
effusion of joy
vsinfectious joy
7.3

A sudden strong burst of joy that people feel or show

spreads happiness to other people
gleefulness
vsinfectious joy
3.5

A strong feeling of happy excitement that makes you smile

spreads happiness to other people
gladsomeness
vsinfectious joy
  • Archaic
8.9

A feeling of great happiness and pleasure

spreads happiness to other people
joyance
vsinfectious joy
  • Archaic
9.9

Great happiness and lively celebration with singing and dancing

spreads happiness to other people
complete and utter joy
vsinfectious joy
2.8

A very strong feeling of deep happiness

spreads happiness to other people
joy in spades
vsinfectious joy
  • Informal
4.8

A very large amount of happiness

spreads happiness to other people

Antonyms

210 3.5

A complete loss of hope

How Joyful

ecstasy
57 6.1
exultation
  • Formal
3 7.9
infectious joy
4.4
happiness
970 1.0
contentment
26 2.1

Surface Forms

Morphology

infectious + joy

The phrase 'infectious joy' is directly derivable from 'infectious' (spreading easily by influence) + 'joy' (happiness); a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it means happiness that spreads to others. This metaphorical use of 'infectious' for emotions is common cross-linguistically and follows transparent compositional patterns, making the expression predictable for learners.

Etymology

Infectious joy uses the word infectious, which comes from the idea of an illness that spreads, and joy meaning happiness. Imagine one person laughing and others start laughing too as if the feeling is 'caught' from them, so that's why it means 'a happiness that spreads to others'.