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
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
In addition to ecstasy, Kidman’s expression also conveys shock and anguish and, finally, acceptance of the impossible.
—
Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2024
The federal government is currently considering changing marijuana’s place in the Controlled Substances Act list, which would essentially say that marijuana is not as bad as other drugs such as heroin and ecstasy and can be legally prescribed and dispensed at licensed pharmacies.
—Sara Chernikoff, USA TODAY, 6 Apr. 2024
Inscribed on the gold frame were words drawn from the Mystical Experience Questionnaire: holy, spirit, ecstasy, awe and paradox.
—Brendan Borrell, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024
The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this year that Musk — who has been locked in a close race with Jeff Bezos and Bernard Arnault for the title of richest person in the world — is an occasional user of cocaine, ecstasy, LSD, and mushrooms, among other drugs.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 21 Feb. 2024
Authorities also recovered $40,000 in cash, ecstasy, over three ounces of methamphetamine and more than 625,000 milligrams of pure ketamine.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 20 Feb. 2024
Revenge never comes, but Ana does get to repeat her ecstasy.
—Michael Greenberg, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2024
This melancholy dervish finds in music a sustained ecstasy that eludes him in life, although at certain splendid instants those separate worlds collide.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2023
According to police, blood tests performed at Eden Medical Center turned up evidence Santos had used amphetamines, opiates, cannabis and ecstasy.
—Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2024
Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2024
The federal government is currently considering changing marijuana’s place in the Controlled Substances Act list, which would essentially say that marijuana is not as bad as other drugs such as heroin and ecstasy and can be legally prescribed and dispensed at licensed pharmacies.
—Sara Chernikoff, USA TODAY, 6 Apr. 2024
Inscribed on the gold frame were words drawn from the Mystical Experience Questionnaire: holy, spirit, ecstasy, awe and paradox.
—Brendan Borrell, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024
The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this year that Musk — who has been locked in a close race with Jeff Bezos and Bernard Arnault for the title of richest person in the world — is an occasional user of cocaine, ecstasy, LSD, and mushrooms, among other drugs.
—William Gavin, Quartz, 21 Feb. 2024
Authorities also recovered $40,000 in cash, ecstasy, over three ounces of methamphetamine and more than 625,000 milligrams of pure ketamine.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 20 Feb. 2024
Revenge never comes, but Ana does get to repeat her ecstasy.
—Michael Greenberg, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2024
This melancholy dervish finds in music a sustained ecstasy that eludes him in life, although at certain splendid instants those separate worlds collide.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2023
According to police, blood tests performed at Eden Medical Center turned up evidence Santos had used amphetamines, opiates, cannabis and ecstasy.
—Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ecstasy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Ecstasy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ecstasy. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
adjective
ek-ˈstat-ik
ik-
ecstatically
adverb
-i-k(ə-)lē
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
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