Words for the International Day of Happiness

The International Day of Happiness is celebrated around the world every March 20. It was established by a United Nations Resolution in 2012 to "promote, preserve and celebrate the principle that happiness is a universal human right and goal." Here are 15 words for expressing happiness.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. mirth
    great merriment
    He said that “haha” indicates “more serious amusement,” and adds extra “ha”s for “more serious mirth.” The New Yorker (Apr 30, 2015)
  2. glee
    great merriment
    The group was so stunned, most were mute at first, but the squeals of glee slowly emerged as they realized their good fortune. Washington Times (Feb 26, 2017)
  3. gaiety
    a joyful feeling
    Adding to the frisson, it was to be performed by a starry cast on New Year’s Eve in 2011, thus promising sparkle and gaiety. New York Times (Feb 28, 2014)
  4. merriment
    activities that are enjoyable or amusing
    Toys: The holiday season brings merriment to our kids and puts a twinkle in their eyes with toys, toys, and more toys. Washington Times (Dec 6, 2016)
  5. buoyant
    characterized by liveliness and lightheartedness
    Arrangements are consistently inspired, often surprising, and their performances are as buoyant as Santa's sleigh on Christmas Eve.
    —Los Angeles Times Nov 26, 2014
    From Spanish boyante, which comes from the verb boyar "to float."
  6. contentment
    happiness with one's situation in life
    It turns out that cultivating positive emotions such as joy, contentment, interest, pride and love pays huge dividends. New York Times (Jun 14, 2013)
  7. ecstatic
    feeling great rapture or delight
    Their fans are ecstatic, and the Giants are going to New York. New York Times (Oct 2, 2016)
  8. elated
    exultantly proud and joyful; in high spirits
    I was therefore elated when he recently placed high enough to be included in the school spelling bee. Seattle Times (Feb 19, 2017)
  9. exultant
    joyful and proud especially because of triumph or success
    Felicia shouts, exultant, laughing and applauding his silken moves.
    —Dreaming in Cuban
    From Latin exultantem "boastful, vainglorious."
  10. exuberant
    joyously unrestrained
    This show, he says, “includes quiet moments and meditation as well as exuberant playfulness.”
    —Washington Post Nov. 20, 2014
    From Latin exuberare "be abundant, grow luxuriously." From ex- "thoroughly" and uberare "to be fruitful."
  11. jaunty
    having a cheerful, lively, and self-confident air
    The score presented on this night was full of jaunty dancelike segments, rollicking bits and tuneful stretches in the British music hall tradition.
    —New York Times Sep 21, 2014
    From French gentil "nice, pleasing." The spelling of this word is meant to reflect the French pronunciation of gentil.
  12. jubilant
    full of high-spirited delight
    On the edges there were people who came for the spectacle, laughing, jubilant.
    —Los Angeles Times Nov 30, 2014
    From jubilare "to call to someone" which became among Christian writers " a shout for joy." The English word is first attested in the works of John Milton.
  13. effervescent
    marked by high spirits or excitement
    You quote Lucas saying that, with the original trilogy, he was aiming for “effervescent giddiness.”
    —The New Yorker Dec 17, 2014
    From Latin effervescere, "to boil up, boil over."
  14. ebullient
    joyously unrestrained
    Not that the ebullient, boundlessly confident Mr Renzi stays concerned for long.
    —Economist Oct 9, 2014
    From Latin ebullire "to boil over", from ex- "out" and bullire "to bubble."
  15. euphoric
    characterized by a feeling of well-being or elation
    “It was like if I had another lung; I could breathe more,” she said of her euphoric feeling during the trip.
    —New York Times May 28, 2014
    From Greek euphoria "power of enduring easily", this word originally referred to feeling healthy and comfortable even when sick, from eu- "well" and pherein "to carry."
Created on Sat Mar 18 19:37:49 EDT 2017 (updated Sat Mar 18 19:54:00 EDT 2017)

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