merriment

noun

mer·​ri·​ment ˈmer-i-mənt 

ˈme-ri-

1

: lighthearted gaiety or fun-making : hilarity

2

: a lively celebration or party : festivity

Synonyms

• glee
• cheerfulness
• merriness
• festivity
• cheer
• gayety
• mirth

Examples of merriment in a Sentence

a time of great joy and merriment

Their house was always filled with merriment.

Recent Examples on the Web

There is no true holiness without merriment, and all true merriment is holy. —Matthew Scogin, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025

The pair will reprise the roles of Jack Cooper and Jessica McFall, who are planning their New Year’s Eve wedding celebration until a once-in-a-lifetime career opportunity threatens to upend the festivities and matrimonial merriment. —Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 28 July 2025

Downtown Saluda turns into a walkable outdoor gallery, showcasing pottery, sculpture, paintings, and all manner of other crafts, and it’s all complemented by live music and general merriment. —Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 5 July 2025

Crews describes a raucous scene of work and merriment, the scent of blood in the cold air. —Charlie Lee, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1574, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for merriment

• experiment

Kids Definition

merriment

noun

mer·​ri·​ment ˈmer-i-mənt 

: mirth, fun