ecstatic

1 of 2

adjective

ec·​stat·​ic ek-ˈsta-tik How to pronounce ecstatic (audio)
ik-ˈsta-
Synonyms of ecstaticnext
: of, relating to, or marked by ecstasy
ecstatically
ek-ˈsta-ti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce ecstatic (audio)
ik-ˈsta-
adverb

ecstatic

2 of 2

noun

: one that is subject to ecstasies

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Ecstatic has been used in our language since the late 16th century, and the noun ecstasy is even older, dating from the 1300s. Both derive from the Greek verb existanai ("to put out of place"), which was used in a Greek phrase meaning "to drive someone out of his or her mind." That seems an appropriate history for words that can describe someone who is nearly out of their mind with intense emotion. In early use, ecstatic was sometimes linked to mystic trances, out-of-body experiences, and temporary madness. Today, however, it typically implies a state of enthusiastic excitement or intense happiness.

Synonyms

Adjective

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of ecstatic in a Sentence

Adjective A few religious denominations—Pentecostalism, for example—still offer a collective ecstatic experience, as did rock culture at its height. But the ecstatic religions tend to be marginal, and rock has been tamed for commercial consumption … —Barbara Ehrenreich, Civilization, June/July 2000
… in dietary terms we are veritable troglodytes (which, speaking personally, is all right by me). I think this explains a lot, not least my expanding sense of dismay as the waiter bombarded us with ecstatic descriptions of roulades, ratatouilles, empanadas, langostinos … and goodness knows what else. —Bill Bryson, I'm a Stranger Here Myself, 1999
He was ecstatic when he heard that he was going to be a father. a football player who was ecstatic upon receiving a full athletic scholarship to the college of his choice
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
In Thursday’s latest Rasmussen Reports survey shared with Secrets, the president-elect’s MAGA base is ecstatic with his choices and believes that the Senate will bow to Trump’s wishes. —Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Nov. 2024 While many fans will be ecstatic the rock band has returned with a new album and tour, others will shun them eternally, viewing this version as an affront to the memory of singer Chester Bennington, who died in 2017. —Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 15 Nov. 2024
Noun
Unsurprisingly, Kaley wasn't the only one ecstatic about parenthood. —Adrianna Freedman, Good Housekeeping, 12 Oct. 2022 Derrick Levasseur is pretty much ecstatic about his experience on season 16 of Big Brother. —Dalton Ross, EW.com, 21 June 2022 See all Example Sentences for ecstatic 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from Medieval Latin ecstaticus, extaticus, borrowed from Greek ekstatikós "inclined to depart from, out of one's senses, causing mental disorder," from eksta-, stem of existánai "to displace, confound," exístasthai "to be astonished, lose consciousness" + -t-, verbal adjective suffix (after statós "standing") + -ikos -ic entry 1 — more at ecstasy

Noun

derivative of ecstatic entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1590, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1659, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ecstatic was in 1590

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Dictionary Entries Near ecstatic

ecstasy

ecstatic

ecstatical

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Ecstatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ecstatic. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ecstatic

Nglish: Translation of ecstatic for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of ecstatic for Arabic Speakers

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