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
But a gleeful surprise was getting a chance to fangirl Emeril Lagasse, who’s early ‘90s cooking shows solidified my love for cooking.
—
Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 18 Dec. 2025
But the teen-soap relationship dynamics among Clover and her friends are secondary to the gleeful creativity with which the movie dispatches them — over and over again.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2025
After a deluge of videos poured out of the fallen city in October, which showed gleeful RSF soldiers murdering POWs and terrified civilians, leadership has cracked down on the sharing of videos.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 5 Dec. 2025
The gleeful, unrepentant suspension of civil liberties by the state would soon become the norm in 21st century America.
—Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gleeful
Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 18 Dec. 2025
But the teen-soap relationship dynamics among Clover and her friends are secondary to the gleeful creativity with which the movie dispatches them — over and over again.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2025
After a deluge of videos poured out of the fallen city in October, which showed gleeful RSF soldiers murdering POWs and terrified civilians, leadership has cracked down on the sharing of videos.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 5 Dec. 2025
The gleeful, unrepentant suspension of civil liberties by the state would soon become the norm in 21st century America.
—Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gleeful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gleeful
Adjective
-
In fact, the more, the merrier!—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
17 Jan. 2026
-
Our young hero Spike (Alfie Williams), having abandoned the secluded safety of his island home in the wake of his mother’s death, finds himself at the mercy of this merry band of bloodthirsty pranksters, shepherded by a sadistic Manson-esque leader, Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell).—
Katie Walsh,
Dallas Morning News,
16 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The surviving kids begin to suspect something is up, but their attempts to appeal to this world’s sad excuses for adult supervision — a jolly mailman, a blank-faced nurse, and a talking train — just lead to more murders.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The jolly grifter gets away with it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Miu Miu, Prada’s sister brand, will stage a similar offline takeover to celebrate the Chinese holiday, with a series of activations on Shanghai’s Donghu Road, transforming the entirety of the street with festive lighting.—
Denni Hu,
Footwear News,
23 Jan. 2026
-
For an extra festive touch, it’s finished off with a burlap bow inked with red hearts.—
Brittany VanDerBill,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Decorate cupcakes, ice cream, cookies, and even pancakes with this cheerful Valentine's Day sprinkle mix.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Pinterest sought a color that is fun, energizing, and cheerful, and Persimmon rolls all those attributes into one playful shade.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gleeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gleeful. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
