rapture 1 of 2

rapture

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word rapture distinct from other similar nouns?

The words ecstasy and transport are common synonyms of rapture. While all three words mean "intense exaltation of mind and feelings," rapture usually implies intense bliss or beatitude.

in speechless rapture

How do ecstasy and rapture relate to one another?

Ecstasy and rapture both suggest a state of trance or near immobility produced by an overpowering emotion; ecstasy may apply to any strong emotion (such as joy, fear, rage, adoration).

religious ecstasy

When might transport be a better fit than rapture?

In some situations, the words transport and rapture are roughly equivalent. However, transport applies to any powerful emotion that lifts one out of oneself and usually provokes vehement expression or frenzied action.

in a transport of rage

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rapture
Noun
The crowd certainly helped matters by sitting in quiet rapture, applauding and cheering only at appropriate times. Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 18 June 2025 The rapture once preached and beckoned in churches has been repackaged for secular times: In place of souls ascending to heaven, there are minds preserved digitally—or even bodies kept alive—for eternity. John Kaag, The Atlantic, 28 May 2025
Verb
Dispensationalism has an offensive reputation among many Jews because the End Times prophecy outlines an event in which Jews suffer mass slaughter while Christian believers are spared because God raptured them. Liam Adams, The Tennessean, 22 Nov. 2024 Yet Mendes mostly sees a cheap, useful instrument in Deakins—a shortcut to rapture. A.a. Dowd, Chron, 8 Dec. 2022 See All Example Sentences for rapture
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rapture
Noun
  • Anisimova watched it all from a few feet away, the agony and ecstasy of a cruel game in stark relief.
    Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 12 July 2025
  • And so, her cri de coeur came out as one great, big, fat, satisfying moan of ecstasy.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 July 2025
Verb
  • 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
Noun
  • The sky was the limit, or maybe not, and extended to the heavens far above.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
  • The spectacle blazed a trail against the azure heavens just before 12:30 p.m., leaving a stream of smoke in its wake.
    Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • Still, this didn’t diminish the strength of the performances, and the Blinks in the crowd didn’t need the bells and whistles to be entranced.
    Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 13 July 2025
  • For no other reason than being entranced by Putin's lies and flirtations.
    Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025
Noun
  • Regardless, drivers have been honking their vehicles’ horns with joy now that Gurnee is the first in the county to end its photo-enforcement program.
    Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
  • The joy emanating from the largely millennial devotees was palpable, from the white clothing blanketing the stands to the breathless commentary throughout the concert.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 13 July 2025
Verb
  • The woman was treated for a head and leg injury on site before she was transported in an ambulance to a local hospital.
    Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 15 July 2025
  • She was transported to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced dead, Bessette said.
    Staff report, Hartford Courant, 14 July 2025
Noun
  • Notions of propriety get in the way of happiness, insinuations overpower truth, gossip becomes currency—a game of social snakes and ladders is afoot at all times.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 24 July 2025
  • This belief pushes them to go out of their way to ensure their partner’s happiness.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
Verb
  • So this season, let yourself be carried away by nostalgia.
    Paulina Berges, Glamour, 19 July 2025
  • This carries away angular momentum and causes the two stellar bodies to move closer together.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 18 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rapture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rapture. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on rapture

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!