When describing emotions, using the same phrase repeatedly can become tiresome. If you're looking for alternatives to "was happy," consider the following synonyms: ecstatic, elated, joyful, delighted, pleased, overjoyed, content, blissful, tickled pink, thrilled, cheerful, glad, merry, and jubilant. Each of these words conveys a different shade of happiness, from a general sense of well-being ("content") to an overwhelming feeling of joy ("ecstatic"). Using a variety of synonyms can add interest and depth to your writing, and help your reader to better understand the emotion of your subject.