as in jolly
indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor the traditional depiction of Santa Claus as a rotund man with merry, twinkling blue eyes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the adjective merry differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of merry are blithe, jocund, jolly, and jovial. While all these words mean "showing high spirits or lightheartedness," merry suggests cheerful, joyous, uninhibited enjoyment of frolic or festivity.

a merry group of revelers

When can blithe be used instead of merry?

The synonyms blithe and merry are sometimes interchangeable, but blithe suggests carefree, innocent, or even heedless gaiety.

arrived late in his usual blithe way

When could jocund be used to replace merry?

Although the words jocund and merry have much in common, jocund stresses elation and exhilaration of spirits.

singing, dancing, and jocund feasting

In what contexts can jolly take the place of merry?

The words jolly and merry are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, jolly suggests high spirits expressed in laughing, bantering, and jesting.

our jolly host enlivened the party

When is it sensible to use jovial instead of merry?

While in some cases nearly identical to merry, jovial suggests the stimulation of conviviality and good fellowship.

dinner put them in a jovial mood

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 merry And, of course, the more pumpkins, the merrier! Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Sep. 2025 For much of a contest that Wrexham briefly threatened to wrestle their way back into early in the second half, Rangers led the hosts on a merry dance with some enterprising attacking play. Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025 While Materialists sticks to the bounds of its love triangle, Splitsville suggests the more, the merrier. Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025 The more, the merrier These systems work best, though, when everyone participates. Aneeka Chaudhry, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for merry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for merry
Adjective
  • Lily Mathé, one of the orchestra’s best violinists, vividly remembered being made to play jolly tunes in the SS officers’ mess at Auschwitz every evening while the guards ate their dinner.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Instead of its usual jolly cartoons, the channel began broadcasting footage of Russian military parades accompanied by music of the Russian nationalist singer Oleg Gazmanov.
    Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Trump tariffs stalled Halloween orders About 90% of festive products – merchandise associated with holidays or other seasonal occasions – are imported from China, according to the South China Morning Post.
    George Petras, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025
  • If the typical harvest color palette is not your style, there’s finally a solution to finding festive fall decor that’s not orange.
    Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • These cheerful yellow dishes remind us of our grandparents’ tablescapes with colorful arrays of roasted vegetables and desserts filled with fresh berries.
    Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Garden statues peeking from behind planters, a vintage wheelbarrow brimming with fall blooms, or even cheerful pinwheels catching the autumn breeze can add charm.
    Angie Hicks, Boston Herald, 25 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Merry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/merry. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

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