hilarity

noun

hi·​lar·​i·​ty hi-ˈler-ə-tē 

hī-

: boisterous merriment or laughter

Synonyms

• glee
• cheerfulness
• merriness
• festivity
• cheer

Examples of hilarity in a Sentence

My attempt to carve the turkey was a source of great hilarity at the dinner table.

hilarity is the last thing you expect to find at a funeral, but we were there to celebrate his life rather than to dwell on his death

Recent Examples on the Web

To add to the hilarity, one of the dachshunds appeared to have chewed through a couch cushion and somehow gotten stuck inside it, with its head and legs filmed protruding through the torn fabric. —Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025

This quickly descended into hilarity when the coaches further ambushed their unwilling challengers with a full-court press for the entire 12 minutes. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 25 Oct. 2025

Developed by Achkar, the show dives headfirst into the hilarity and heartbreak of modern Arab life. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2025

Those of us who grew up with ESPN as our easy companion will miss the days of independence, honesty and hilarity. —Laura Gentile, Sportico.com, 28 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hilarity

• alterity
• asperity
• austerity
• celerity
• dexterity
• disparity
• molarity
• planarity
• polarity
• posterity
• prosperity
• severity

Kids Definition

hilarity

noun

hi·​lar·​i·​ty hil-ˈar-ət-ē 

-ˈer-;

hī-ˈlar-,

-ˈler-

: noisy fun