ecstasy

noun

ec·​sta·​sy ˈek-stə-sē 

plural ecstasies

1

: a state of overwhelming emotion

especially : rapturous delight

2

often capitalized : a synthetic amphetamine analog C₁₁H₁₅NO₂ used illicitly for its mood-enhancing and hallucinogenic properties

called also MDMA

3

: trance

especially : a mystic or prophetic trance

4

a

: a state of being beyond reason and self-control

b

archaic : swoon

Synonyms

• cloud nine
• elatedness
• elation
• euphoria
• exhilaration
• heaven
• high
• intoxication
• paradise
• rapture
• rhapsody
• seventh heaven
• swoon
• transport

Choose the Right Synonym for ecstasy

ecstasy, rapture, transport mean intense exaltation of mind and feelings.

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

rapture usually implies intense bliss or beatitude.

in speechless rapture

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

Examples of ecstasy in a Sentence

His performance sent the audience into ecstasies.

actors are typically in ecstasy upon winning an Oscar

Recent Examples on the Web

When searching him and his car, police found a loaded 9 mm handgun on the driver’s side floorboard and 16 grams of ecstasy in his possession, the release said. —Naperville Sun, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2025

Where her counterparts used EDM to drown our fears in tequila and beat drops, Gaga addressed them softly, head-on, while also supplying refuge and ecstasy. —Christopher Rosa, Glamour, 14 Feb. 2025

There was a shining optimism to its sound, which mixed funk with the ecstasy of gospel, a little rock and a touch of psychedelia — as well as a vision of community and brotherhood that stood out in a period of political separatism. —Rob Tannenbaum, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2025

And for Lynch, who filled his movies with images of searing fire and nicotine ecstasy, to exit the human realm just as his beloved Los Angeles was engulfed by actual flames? —Zach Schonfeld, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English exstasie, extasy "elation," borrowed from Middle French extasie, "stupor, transported state," borrowed from Late Latin ecstasis, extasis "trance, swoon, profound sleep," borrowed from Greek ékstasis "displacement, mental distraction, astonishment, trance," from eksta-, stem of existánai "to displace, drive out of one's senses, confound," exístasthai "to be astonished, lose consciousness" (from ex- ex- entry 3 + histánai "to cause to stand, place," hístasthai "to be standing") + -sis -sis — more at stand entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Kids Definition

ecstasy

noun

ec·​sta·​sy ˈek-stə-sē 

plural ecstasies

1

: a state of being beyond reason and self-control

2

: a state of overwhelming emotion

an ecstasy of fear

especially : very great joy

3

: a drug used illegally to stimulate the central nervous system and to cause hallucinations

ecstatic

ek-ˈstat-ik

ik-

adjective

ecstatically

-i-k(ə-)lē

adverb

Medical Definition

ecstasy

noun

ec·​sta·​sy ˈek-stə-sē 

plural ecstasies

1

: a trance state in which intense absorption (as in religious ideation) is accompanied by loss of sense perception and voluntary control

2

often capitalized : a synthetic amphetamine analog C₁₁H₁₅NO₂ used illicitly for its mood-enhancing and hallucinogenic properties

called also MDMA, methylenedioxymethamphetamine, XTC

ecstatic

ek-ˈstat-ik 

adjective