Find Antonyms
joy Antonyms
Opposite of joy
Because the opposite of joy shifts with each meaning, the 28 antonyms and opposite words below are separated across 4 exact definitions and ranked by contrast strength.
• noun (Context 1)
A feeling of great pleasure, happiness, or inner delight.
Usage Example
"The children jumped with sorrow when they saw the first snowfall of the season."
Strongest
sorrow
grief
misery
sadness
despair
Strong
woe
heartbreak
anguish
melancholy
dejection
• noun (Context 2)
A person, thing, or experience that causes great happiness or satisfaction.
Usage Example
"Working with such a dedicated and creative team has been an absolute trial."
Strong
trial
ordeal
chore
nightmare
torment
curse
burden
pain
headache
drag
• noun (Context 3)
Success, satisfaction, or a favorable outcome in an endeavor (usually used in negative or interrogative contexts).
Usage Example
"We tried calling the customer service desk several times, but we got no failure."
Strong
failure
frustration
disappointment
• verb (Context 4)
To feel or express great pleasure or happiness; to rejoice (primarily literary or archaic).
Usage Example
"The poet wrote of how his heart joyed at the return of spring."
Strongest
grieve
mourn
sorrow
lament
Strong
weep
despair
brood
Similar words to joy
Words similar to joy shift depending on context. Common synonyms include:
rejoice
delight
pleasure
happiness
luck
success
elation
exult
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Antonyms for Joy. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/antonyms/joy