gleeful

adjective

glee·​ful ˈglē-fəl 

: full of glee : merry

gleeful laughter

gleefully

ˈglē-fə-lē 

adverb

gleefulness noun

Synonyms of gleeful

• merry
• jolly
• festive
• cheerful

Examples of gleeful in a Sentence

the gleeful atmosphere that envelops the host city of the Super Bowl

Recent Examples on the Web

Jocelyn Bioh’s School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play isn’t a musical, but about two-thirds of the way through, there’s a sing-off that’s both a gleeful showstopper and a wry metatheatrical treat. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2026

But the stage that Springer cultivated was a gleeful one, a tacky spectacle of shock and depravity, an ungodly home for the freaks who knew just what to do when the lights came on. — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026

Victorians adored houseplants and incorporated them into their interiors with gleeful maximalist excess. — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Sep. 2026

Amateur humiliation content has become widespread on the internet, giving Americans more opportunities than ever to indulge in gleeful disgust or righteous outrage. — Daniel Lachance, The Conversation, 21 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1586, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gleeful

• refill