1
as in cheerfulness
a mood characterized by high spirits and amusement and often accompanied by laughter
rather than mourn our friend's death we celebrated his life, and his memorial service was more notable for its festivity than its funereal gloom
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in celebration
a time or program of special events and entertainment in honor of something
year-long festivities will mark the 300th anniversary of the city's founding
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in merrymaking
joyful or festive activity
in keeping with their habit of doing everything in a big way, the couple's wedding will entail a whole weekend of festivity
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of festivity
Download our party props sheet to have some fun with with friends and family throughout the Derby festivities.
—
Sam Settleman, New York Times, 3 May 2025
In one photo, from Trump's inaugural festivities, the two men are giving thumbs up to the camera.
—Tom Dreisbach, NPR, 1 May 2025
This year’s festivities, set to be held on Saturday, May 3, promise to have all the excitement and glamour of past years.
—Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
The festivities are held the third weekend in January and are the unofficial close of the Christmas season on the island.
—Laia Garcia-Furtado, Vogue, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for festivity
Sam Settleman, New York Times, 3 May 2025
In one photo, from Trump's inaugural festivities, the two men are giving thumbs up to the camera.
—Tom Dreisbach, NPR, 1 May 2025
This year’s festivities, set to be held on Saturday, May 3, promise to have all the excitement and glamour of past years.
—Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
The festivities are held the third weekend in January and are the unofficial close of the Christmas season on the island.
—Laia Garcia-Furtado, Vogue, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for festivity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for festivity
Noun
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With hyperpop-ish glee, Barbie veered between musical, slapstick comedy, and melodrama.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
5 May 2025
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Julian had a blast cradling the cooing birds and imitating the chant-like calls of the pigeon handlers, flapping his arms with glee as their flocks took flight and landed on command.—
Ashlea Halpern,
AFAR Media,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
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With Parent-Bédard as its new president and CEO, the festival made a gradual return this year with small events in Sydney and Bermuda.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
5 May 2025
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Visit An Arts And Crafts Festival Virtually every city or town, regardless of size, offers arts and crafts festivals throughout the summer and fall.—
Roger Sands,
Forbes.com,
4 May 2025
Noun
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Alternatively, the Perry Lane Hotel, as well as the brand-new, Ann Savannah, will put you in the heart of the merrymaking.—
Madeline Weinfield,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Mar. 2025
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In fact, ancient Romans celebrated the day with a fertility festival with animal sacrifices and drunken merrymaking.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA TODAY,
13 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Lynch’s early attempt to get heat only resulted in cheers, though there were some boos mixed in.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
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After white smoke emerged from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, there was a brief moment of uncertainty when the new pope's name was announced to a huge crowd in St. Peter's Square before people erupted in cheers.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
Noun
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That night, the royal sisters went out to join the revelry across the city, a scene reimagined in season 6 of The Crown on Netflix.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
9 May 2025
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But the true horror in the film is the economics of Jim Crow, which drives every event in the plot, including the vampire bloodbath that ultimately cuts the musical revelry—and the twins’ dreams—short.—
Adam Serwer,
The Atlantic,
2 May 2025
Noun
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That merriment includes exploring some of the secluded isles on the Tuscan coastline.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
10 May 2025
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Federal Street in front of the stadium, the Roberto Clemente Bridge, and two blocks of 6th Street in Downtown will be closed off to vehicles and filled with food, drink and merriment for Buccos fans.—
Ryan Deto,
Axios,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Sign up Eating and drinking (Image credit: Riverside Luxury Cruises) The first thing to say about eating on The Ravel is that there is no Captain's Table or forced jollity with other passengers.—
James Rampton,
theweek,
6 Nov. 2024
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While the jollity may look a bit different from city to city, these global destinations keep the holiday cheer going year after year.—
Caitlin Morton,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 Nov. 2023
Noun
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With the Red Army closing in, such gatherings, expressions of a desperate gaiety, a fin d’une époque efflorescence, weren’t rare.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
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With the Red Army closing in, such gatherings, expressions of a desperate gaiety, a fin d’une époque efflorescence, weren’t rare.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Festivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/festivity. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
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