gleefulness

3.5

A strong feeling of happy excitement that makes you smile

noun
/ˈɡliːfəl.nəs/

: alegría

Her face lit up with gleefulness when she received the good news about her promotion.

Examples

The way, after they hugged and he got a drink, that she lifted her pint glass in a toast, the slightly clumsy gleefulness of it, made him realize, as he had not before, that she was on vacation.

Fiction book (1994)
The children's gleefulness was contagious as they played in the sunny park.
He couldn't hide his gleefulness after winning the award for best actor.

Synonyms

happiness

vsgleefulness

970 1.0

A feeling of pleasure and being satisfied

is more playful and merry rather than general contentment

joy

vsgleefulness

793 1.0

A strong feeling of great happiness

is similar but points to more playful merriment specifically

bliss

vsgleefulness

78 3.2

A complete feeling of great happiness and peace

is similar but more specifically playful and merry rather than absolute

euphoria

vsgleefulness

45 6.8

A very strong feeling of happiness and excitement

is joyful too but usually calmer and more playful

glee

vsgleefulness

34 1.0

A strong feeling of happiness and excitement

is the same joyful state but stresses lively merriment

exuberance

vsgleefulness

27 6.7

A feeling of strong, happy energy and excitement

shares cheer but focuses more on light playful merriment

elation

vsgleefulness

18 5.5

A very happy and excited feeling after a big success

is joyous too but focuses more on merry amusement than pride

exhilaration

vsgleefulness

17 5.8

A strong, happy feeling of excitement

is like that but stresses playful merriment more than energy

mirth

vsgleefulness

15 6.1

Great happiness that people show by laughing

is the same merriment but with more steady joyful feeling

merriment

vsgleefulness

14 3.4

A time of happy laughter and fun at a party or celebration

is similar but highlights bubbling, playful joy rather than general fun

hilarity

vsgleefulness

12 5.2

A strong feeling of amusement that makes people laugh

is similar but centres on lively merriment not only loud laughter

jubilation

vsgleefulness

11 5.2

A strong feeling of happiness and excitement during a celebration

is like that but centers on private playful merriment

gladness

vsgleefulness

9 1.0

A feeling of being happy and pleased

is nearly the same but leans more toward lively merriment

cheerfulness

vsgleefulness

4 1.0

A happy mood that makes you smile and helps others feel good

is more about sudden merry delight than steady optimism

exultation

vsgleefulness

Formal

3 7.9

A strong feeling of great joy often shown by loud shouts

is similar in cheer but centres on merry feeling, not triumph

ebullience

vsgleefulness

1 8.5

A feeling of cheerful, lively energy that people show

is similar but emphasizes simple merry feeling rather than energy

joyfulness

vsgleefulness

1 2.0

A strong feeling of happiness and excitement

is like that but stresses lively merriment over steadiness

pure bliss

vsgleefulness

1 3.7

A feeling of complete happiness

is more lively and playful rather than calm contentment

jubilance

vsgleefulness

1 6.5

A strong feeling of great joy that people show openly

is similar but leans more toward lighthearted, playful joy

blissfulness

vsgleefulness

1 4.4

A feeling of complete happiness and calm

is similar but focuses on quick, merry delight rather than steadiness

joyousness

vsgleefulness

1 3.0

A strong feeling of great happiness

is similar but highlights merry, spirited expression more strongly

mirthfulness

vsgleefulness

7.4

A feeling of joyful laughter that spreads to others

is similar but focuses more on the general merry state

jubilancy

vsgleefulness

8.1

A strong feeling of great joy after success

shares strong joy but lacks the victory or triumph focus

joyance

vsgleefulness

Archaic

9.9

Great happiness and lively celebration with singing and dancing

means the same joy but in more modern playful tone

gladfulness

vsgleefulness

7.2

A warm feeling of happiness and pleasure inside you

overlaps in joy but focuses more on playful merry tone

gladsomeness

vsgleefulness

Archaic

8.9

A feeling of great happiness and pleasure

is similar but more centered on outward merry amusement

joy in spades

vsgleefulness

Informal

4.8

A very large amount of happiness

is similar but centres on spirited merry feeling rather than quantity

complete and utter joy

vsgleefulness

2.8

A very strong feeling of deep happiness

shares high joy but usually feels lighter and more playful

Antonyms

misery

310 2.8

A feeling of great unhappiness and suffering

sadness

229 1.0

A feeling of being unhappy

How Happy

ecstasy

57 6.1

gleefulness

3.5

happiness

970 1.0

pleasure

∞ 1.0

contentment

26 2.1

Surface Forms

gleefulness singular

gleefulnesses plural

Morphology

gleefulness = gleeful (transparent) = glee + ful + ness

Formed by adding '-ness' to the familiar adjective 'gleeful' (which itself is clearly glee + -ful), so the meaning is directly predictable.

Etymology

Gleefulness comes from the simple word glee, meaning 'joy', plus the parts -ful ('full of') and -ness (which makes a noun about a state). So, gleefulness is the 'state of being full of joy'.