as in merry
indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor
the gleeful atmosphere that envelops the host city of the Super Bowl
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gleeful
After Shideler was cross-examined, the feeling in the park outside was briefly gleeful.
—
Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2026
Balancing their orchestrated plans with the spontaneity of a real participant is what gave the series its gleeful tension.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 20 Mar. 2026
Tenacious defense and timely free-throw shooting from David and junior Cooper Ellwood sealed the title for Rock Canyon, as star big Kai Valentine tackled junior Jonah Medina after the buzzer and threw a few gleeful fake punches at his chest.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026
The Masked Singer is a gleeful, genuinely unexpected addition to the reality singing genre, and its popularity with fans is intense.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gleeful
Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2026
Balancing their orchestrated plans with the spontaneity of a real participant is what gave the series its gleeful tension.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 20 Mar. 2026
Tenacious defense and timely free-throw shooting from David and junior Cooper Ellwood sealed the title for Rock Canyon, as star big Kai Valentine tackled junior Jonah Medina after the buzzer and threw a few gleeful fake punches at his chest.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026
The Masked Singer is a gleeful, genuinely unexpected addition to the reality singing genre, and its popularity with fans is intense.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gleeful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gleeful
Adjective
-
Using Too Many Small Bins The more bins, the merrier?—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Mau's reckless band of merry men inevitably leave a trail of bodies in their wake, leading police captain Brander Lawson (Wagner Moura) to investigate the criminal takeover of Janix.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Of course, even for me there were still some jolly moments.—
Christine Smallwood,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Vivacious Mars dances with jolly Jupiter, energizing your 6th House of Practice and your 10th House of Ambition.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Book your trip during the festive season far in advance, as hotel rooms and villas can book out up to a year in advance.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Held every June, this tradition celebrates the year’s harvest with a festive parade, classic car displays, live music, and what feels like endless fresh-cut watermelon.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Each layer of this cake is studded with sweet, fresh berries and tart lemon while pureed blueberries give the frosting its bright and cheerful color.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The Confetti Dot, in cheerful red or navy, is a festive favorite and a go-to gift.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gleeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gleeful. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
