thrilled
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/1
Thrilled, delighted, overjoyed, and elated all describe a strong positive emotional reaction, but they differ in intensity and register. Thrilled is the most common and versatile of the four; it combines excitement with happiness and works in both casual and semi-formal contexts ('The kids were thrilled about the trip'). Delighted is slightly more formal and suggests a warm, satisfied happiness that is often expressed politely ('We would be delighted to attend'). Overjoyed describes a burst of intense joy, typically in response to deeply personal or life-changing events, such as a reunion or a long-awaited success. Elated sits at the most formal end of the spectrum and carries a note of triumphant pride — it is common in news reporting and literary writing. For everyday strong happiness after good news, thrilled is the safest and most natural choice.
Common collocations
Etymology
Thrilled comes from the verb thrill, which in Middle English (thrillen) meant 'to pierce or penetrate'. This in turn came from Old English þyrlian (to pierce), related to þyrel (hole). The modern emotional sense developed in the 16th–17th centuries, as a piercing or sharp feeling came to represent a sudden, intense emotional sensation — being 'pierced' by delight or excitement. So to be thrilled originally carried the image of a feeling passing right through you.