as in to delight
to give satisfaction to
it would gladden me to hear you sing again
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Recent Examples of gladden
But there’s something reliably gladdening about sitting down with a warm bowl that promises to nourish.
—
Karen Yuan, Bon Appétit, 1 Feb. 2025
But there’s something genuinely gladdening to take away from this inquiry into the modern media.
—Jason Linkins, The New Republic, 18 Feb. 2023
The quick-change, prop-heavy musical skit brings to the stage, briefly, staples from that classic variety show that will gladden the hearts of TV nostalgists: acrobats, plate spinners, jugglers, the Rockettes, the Vienna Boys Choir, Liberace and even the mouse puppet Topo Gigio.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Nov. 2022
The word from Washington is sure to gladden the Newsom campaign.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2021
Even a dead beaver, with its buck teeth sticking out of its decomposing skull, seemed to gladden Balken.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2021
Lopez, after all, is a pop star—her work is to rouse, inspire, and gladden large crowds by encouraging them to revel in a moment of fleeting, collective joy.
—Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2021
The Concorde will gladden the hearts of record buffs.
—J. A. Maxtone Graham, Popular Mechanics, 24 Sep. 2020
That turnaround is sure to gladden the hearts of Republicans, who have no hope of controlling the White House without Texas.
—Todd J. Gillman, Dallas News, 6 Sep. 2020
Karen Yuan, Bon Appétit, 1 Feb. 2025
But there’s something genuinely gladdening to take away from this inquiry into the modern media.
—Jason Linkins, The New Republic, 18 Feb. 2023
The quick-change, prop-heavy musical skit brings to the stage, briefly, staples from that classic variety show that will gladden the hearts of TV nostalgists: acrobats, plate spinners, jugglers, the Rockettes, the Vienna Boys Choir, Liberace and even the mouse puppet Topo Gigio.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Nov. 2022
The word from Washington is sure to gladden the Newsom campaign.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2021
Even a dead beaver, with its buck teeth sticking out of its decomposing skull, seemed to gladden Balken.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2021
Lopez, after all, is a pop star—her work is to rouse, inspire, and gladden large crowds by encouraging them to revel in a moment of fleeting, collective joy.
—Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2021
The Concorde will gladden the hearts of record buffs.
—J. A. Maxtone Graham, Popular Mechanics, 24 Sep. 2020
That turnaround is sure to gladden the hearts of Republicans, who have no hope of controlling the White House without Texas.
—Todd J. Gillman, Dallas News, 6 Sep. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gladden
Verb
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Every year, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale delights shoppers with its unbeatable selection of stylish and well-made apparel, and this year is no exception.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
21 July 2025
-
Haze: Filled with pineapple flavor, this hazy beer delights the senses with vibrant tropical fruit notes from its hop blend and natural pineapple puree.—
Jess Fleming,
Twin Cities,
18 July 2025
Verb
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Too eager to please and be manipulated, essentially.—
Hadas Gold,
CNN Money,
15 July 2025
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The models keep getting bigger, the marketing keeps promising more, but a fundamental mismatch remains: a system trained to please can't deliver the reality check that therapy sometimes demands.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
11 July 2025
Verb
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Chickpea Cookie Dough Chickpea cookie dough is high in protein and sure to satisfy a craving for sweetness.—
Lauren Panoff,
Verywell Health,
15 July 2025
-
To satisfy presidential demands, field offices are directed to meet new daily arrest quotas—75 arrests per office—raising agency-wide targets to 1,200–1,500 arrests per day, up from only about a few hundred.—
Juwayriah Wright,
Time,
15 July 2025
Verb
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Overwhelming rainfall is becoming more prevalent in a warming world, as rising global temperatures drive weather toward extremes.—
Luke Snyder,
CNN Money,
14 July 2025
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Add spinach, and peas and carrots; cook over medium, stirring occasionally, until peas and carrots are warmed through, about 2 minutes.—
Jasmine Smith,
Southern Living,
13 July 2025
Verb
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In India, a veterinarian treatment used in cows decimated local populations of vultures that feasted on bovine carcasses.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
15 July 2025
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The gull may have been feasting on the truck’s load as the unsuspecting driver made preparations to hit the road.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 July 2025
Verb
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The unexpected footage, now boasting over 2.7 million views on TikTok, revealed her orange tabby in action, leaving viewers both amused and amazed.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 July 2025
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Letterman mocked Phoenix throughout the segment, drawing laughter from the crowd while the actor did not appear amused.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
16 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gladden.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gladden. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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