Enthusiastic vs. ecstatic: what’s the difference?
The short answer
Enthusiastic refers to showing intense interest, eagerness, or approval toward something, often in an active or sustained way. Ecstatic describes a state of overwhelming happiness or joyful excitement, often to the point of being unable to contain one’s feelings.
What they have in common
Both enthusiastic and ecstatic are adjectives that describe positive emotional states involving excitement or joy.
Examples
enthusiastic
- She was enthusiastic about joining the new project team.
- The crowd gave an enthusiastic cheer when the band took the stage.
- He is always enthusiastic when it comes to learning new languages.
ecstatic
- They were ecstatic upon hearing they had won the grand prize.
- She was ecstatic when she received the acceptance letter from her dream university.
- He was ecstatic about the birth of his first child.
Which one is more common?

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