Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

Thesaurus

cheer

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of cheer

1 a mood characterized by high spirits and amusement and often accompanied by laughter
  • a birthday celebration filled with affection and cheer
Synonyms of cheer

cheerfulness, cheeriness, festivity, gaiety (also gayety), gayness, glee, gleefulness, hilarity, jocundity, joviality, merriment, merriness, mirth, mirthfulness
Words Related to cheer

frivolity, levity

jollification, jollity, reveling (or revelling), revelry

brightness, buoyancy, good-humoredness, good-naturedness, humor, sunniness

gamesomeness, insouciance, lightheartedness, playfulness, sportiveness

buffoonery, clownishness, flippancy, funning, jest, jesting, jocoseness, jocosity, jocularity, joking, joshing

frolicking, gamboling (or gambolling), rollicking, romping
Near Antonyms of cheer

blues, dejection, depression, despondence, forlornness, sadness, sorrow, unhappiness

dolefulness, dolorousness, joylessness, mournfulness, plaintiveness, woe, woefulness

blackness, darkness, gloominess, glumness

desolateness, desolation

heartbreak, miserableness, misery, mourning, wretchedness
2 a feeling of ease from grief or trouble
  • The visiting general had some words of cheer for each of the hospital's recuperating soldiers.
Synonyms of cheer

comfort, consolation, relief, solace
Words Related to cheer

encouragement, inspiration, uplift

assurance, reassurance

alleviation, assuagement, mitigation

contentment, gladness, happiness

commiseration, empathy, sympathy

aid, assistance, help, succor
Near Antonyms of cheer

cold comfort

anguish, distress, heartache, heartbreak, torment, torture
3 a state of mind dominated by a particular emotion
  • Be of good cheer in this Christmas season!
Synonyms of cheer

feather, humor, mode, mood, spirit, temper
Words Related to cheer

angle, attitude, mind-set, outlook, perspective, slant, standpoint, viewpoint

emotion, feeling, heart, passion, sentiment

strain

expression, tone, vein

character, disposition, identity, individuality, makeup, mettle, personality, temper, temperament
Phrases Synonymous with cheer

frame of mind
4 enthusiastic and usually public expression of approval
  • All three movies in the series received cheers from fans of the novels.
Synonyms of cheer

acclamation, applause, cheering, ovation, plaudit(s), rave(s)
Words Related to cheer

clapping

bravo, hail, hallelujah, hurrah (also hooray), hosanna, huzzah (or huzza)

acclaim, accolade, citation, commendation, compliment, encomium, eulogy, homage, kudo, paean, panegyric, salutation, tribute

kudos, praise
Near Antonyms of cheer

boo, hiss, hoot, jeer, raspberry, smirk, sneer, snicker, snigger, snort, whistle

gibe (or jibe), put-down, taunt
Antonyms of cheer

booing, hissing

cheer

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of cheer

1 to declare enthusiastic approval of
  • Critics and fans alike have cheered the latest addition to the author's series of fantasy novels.
Synonyms of cheer

acclaim, accredit, applaud, crack up, hail, laud, praise, salute, tout
Words Related to cheer

bravo, clap, rise (to)

ballyhoo

approve, commend, endorse (also indorse), favor, recommend, root (for), support

celebrate, emblazon, eulogize, extol (also extoll), glorify, magnify, sing

adulate, belaud, flatter, overpraise

deify, idolize
Phrases Synonymous with cheer

doff one's hat to (or doff one's cap to)
Near Antonyms of cheer

belittle, disparage, put down

blame, censure, reprehend, reprobate

admonish, chide, criticize, rebuke, reprimand, reproach, reprove

castigate, excoriate, keelhaul, lambaste (or lambast), skewer, vilify
Antonyms of cheer

knock, pan, slam
2 to ease the grief or distress of
  • Let's hope that these flowers will cheer my ailing aunt at least a little.
Synonyms of cheer

assure, comfort, console, reassure, solace, soothe
Words Related to cheer

commiserate, condole, empathize, sympathize

boost, buoy (up), elevate, lift, uplift

allay, alleviate, assuage, relieve

calm, quiet, relax, tranquilize (also tranquillize)
Near Antonyms of cheer

demoralize, discourage, dishearten

fret, upset, worry

aggravate, intensify, worsen

annoy, irk, irritate

harass, pester
Antonyms of cheer

distress, torment, torture, trouble

Learn More about cheer

  1. See words that rhyme with cheer Dictionary: Definition of cheer Spanish Central: Translation of cheer Nglish: Translation of cheer for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of cheer for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cheer

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up cheer? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games