To distinguish these words (happy, glad, joyful)

Question

These word are all adjectives to describe a kind of emotion of people, but they are not equal due to the subtle differences between them. Can you tell me in which condition an appropriate word be useful? such as happy, glad, joyful, joyous, pleased, cheerful, carefree, merry... =A3=A8some examples ^ ^=A3=A9 especially which one is suitable to describe = both
a person's mood and his view of life.

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]These word are all adjectives to describe a kind of emotion of people, but they are not equal due to ... in which condition an appropriate word be useful? such as happy, glad, joyful, joyous, pleased, cheerful, carefree, merry... £¨some examples[/nq]^ ^£© especially which one is suitable to describe both
[nq:1]a person's mood and his view of life.[/nq]
Many of your words are directly interchangeable through context.

However, there are subtle differences as you write but this difference must be set by overall context; careful wording.

Subtle distinctions but not always true,
Happy - overall mood without a direct cause; generally happy. Glad - invoked by relief through a positive event; glad this happened. Joyful, joyous - same notion, celebratory; Christmas joy. Pleased - satisfaction, satiation; pleased to be your wife. Cheerful - an effort to cause another to be happy; he cheers me. Carefree - without or little worry; she lives by her own rules. Merry - the same as joyous but often involves alcoholic beverages. =)

He is now always a happy person and glad he married her and she is joyful he is pleased with her which makes for a cheerful relationship and a carefree life for both along with a merry home for their family.
Merry is a word hard to use. This word seems confined to celebrations such as Christmas, Easter and such. "Merriment" is easier to use often referring to a party or festive event.

Purl Gurl

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]These word are all adjectives to describe a kind of emotion of people, but they are not equal due to ... in which condition an appropriate word be useful? such as happy, glad, joyful, joyous, pleased, cheerful, carefree, merry... £¨some examples[/nq]^ ^£© especially which one is suitable to describe both
[nq:1]a person's mood and his view of life.[/nq]
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Bob Lieblich
No relation to Marian the Librarian

To distinguish these words (happy, glad, joyful)

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