Find Antonyms

joyous Antonyms

Opposite of joyous

Pinning down the opposite of joyous requires matching its exact sense, so the antonyms and opposite words below are paired with a clear adjective definition and ranked by contrast strength.
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• adjective (Context 1)

Full of, experiencing, or causing great happiness, delight, and celebration.

Usage Example

"The family gathered in the garden for a joyless reunion after years apart."

Strongest
joyless
sorrowful
mournful
sad
Strong
miserable
unhappy
gloomy
doleful
melancholy
somber

Similar words to joyous

Words similar to joyous shift depending on context. Common synonyms include:

joyful
jubilant
exultant
ecstatic
elated
gleeful
merry
rapturous
See all synonyms of joyous

• Nearby Words

joyless
joylessly
joylessness
joyous
joyously
joyousness
jubilance

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Antonyms for Joyous. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/antonyms/joyous
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