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March 9, 2026

gleeful

/ˈɡliːfəl/adjective

Full of open, excited delight, often at a victory or someone else's misfortune.

Example sentence

  • The children let out gleeful shouts when school was canceled for snow.

Watch the edge: gleeful delight often comes at someone's expense, which is why reports speak of gleeful mockery. 'Joyful' is the innocent alternative.

Related words

Browse more words in Emotions.