euphoric

adjective

eu·​phor·​ic yü-ˈfȯr-ik 

-ˈfär-

: marked by a feeling of great happiness and excitement : characterized by, based on, or producing euphoria

a euphoric mood

feeling euphoric

He knew he was going to win big, big, big, and he was euphoric about it.

—Russell Baker

All addictive drugs … work in the brain to produce feelings of well-being and elation. A drug's euphoric effects, which can last from a few minutes to a few hours, are what get a person to take the substance in the first place.

—Joseph Alper

euphorically

yü-ˈfȯr-i-k(ə-)lē 

-ˈfär-

adverb

euphorically happy

One minute they were euphorically celebrating victory. The next, they were dropping to their knees in total despair as they looked to the scoreboard and saw the harsh reality of an 18–13 loss.

—Kyle Riviere

Synonyms

• ecstatic
• elated
• elevated
• enrapt
• enraptured
• entranced
• exhilarated
• giddy
• heady
• intoxicated
• rapt
• rapturous
• rhapsodic
• rhapsodical

Examples of euphoric in a Sentence

the euphoric winner was momentarily speechless

Recent Examples on the Web

The rest of the hour-long set is typically euphoric. —Steve Appleford, SPIN, 17 Oct. 2024

Signs your kid is misusing nitrous oxide can include empty canisters in their room, fits of laughter, inexplicably and bizarrely euphoric mood, not knowing where money has gone and hanging out with kids exhibiting similar issues, Saltz said. —Kristen Rogers, CNN, 20 Sep. 2024

As euphoric as Joan’s professional wins are, her losses are catastrophic. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 2 Oct. 2024

But Buckley, a virtuoso rock performer, possessed a soaring vocal range, supple across multiple octaves and able to achieve euphoric liftoff without the aid of angelic overdubs. —Stephen Metcalf, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

euphoric

adjective

eu·​phor·​ic -ˈfȯr-ik, -ˈfär- 

1

: marked by or experiencing a feeling of intense happiness, excitement, or sense of well-being : characterized by, based on, or producing euphoria (see euphoria sense 1)

Some reports suggest that schizophrenia patients use alcohol to 'self-medicate' psychotic symptoms, subjective distress, insomnia, social anxiety, or medication side effects, whereas other studies suggest that subjects with schizophrenia use alcohol for its stimulatory or euphoric effects.

—Deepak C. D'Souza et al., Neuropsychopharmacology

compare dysphoric sense 1

2

: of, relating to, or characterized by gender euphoria

Euphoric experiences are noted to take place in contexts that are deemed safe spaces and free of expectations about ways genders are expressed.

—Trent Mann et al., Sexuality Research and Social Policy

euphorically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb