Overjoy
v.joyful, kindwarm
What it means
To fill someone with intense happiness.
Reach for it when describing news, reunion, or a gift that causes exceptional delight
The safe return of the missing hikers will overjoy their families.
Choose between these
6- playful
excitement matters with happiness
not when Thrill may involve stimulation rather than heartfelt joy.
- everyday
something gives strong proportionate pleasure
not when Delight can be lighter than overjoy.
- professional
please immensely
intensity should be clear without metaphor
not when Pleased remains cooler than being overjoyed.
- formal
elate
success produces a soaring high
not when Elate fits a result better than quiet affection.
- formal
exhilarate
lively excitement is produced
not when Exhilaration is activating; overjoy may be tearful.
- literary
good news brings sincere happiness
not when Gladden is gentler and old-fashioned.
Said against
3- sadden
- disappoint
- distress
It naturally appears in
3- overjoy the family
News of the scholarship will overjoy the family.
- sure to overjoy
The restored photographs are sure to overjoy their owner.
- overjoy young readers
A visit from the illustrator could overjoy young readers.
The word family
1Where this comes from
Overjoy is not a headword in the dictionaries below. The sense was checked against their entries for overjoyed, and the definition and example here are written for Overjoy itself.
- wiktionary, the entry for overjoyed, English verb sense: make extremely happy opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.