1
as in bright
having or showing a good mood or disposition
a cheerful person who is always fun to work with and a pleasure to be around
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cheery
serving to lift one's spirits
a hospital with sunny, cheerful rooms that are designed to make a patient's stay as pleasant as possible
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Recent Examples of cheerful
Terracotta pots, for example, evoke a warm, rustic feel, while chinoiserie offers a more traditional look with a cheerful pop of color.
—
Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 13 May 2026
Children, yes, but families, grown-ups, single people, divorced people, cheerful people, depressed people, dog people, cat people, Dodgers fans, Padres fans, whomever.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
The Knicks were cheerful after their seventh consecutive win Sunday.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 12 May 2026
In the spoof of gentle, soft, focused crowd pleasers, SNL’s Ashley Padilla channeled the kind of maternal figure she’s honed over two seasons on the show—culturally out of touch, relentlessly cheerful, and covered in statement accessories.
—Erik Adams, The Atlantic, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for cheerful
Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 13 May 2026
Children, yes, but families, grown-ups, single people, divorced people, cheerful people, depressed people, dog people, cat people, Dodgers fans, Padres fans, whomever.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
The Knicks were cheerful after their seventh consecutive win Sunday.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 12 May 2026
In the spoof of gentle, soft, focused crowd pleasers, SNL’s Ashley Padilla channeled the kind of maternal figure she’s honed over two seasons on the show—culturally out of touch, relentlessly cheerful, and covered in statement accessories.
—Erik Adams, The Atlantic, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for cheerful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cheerful
Adjective
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Because a bright sky helps subdue Venus's glare, this is a good time to inspect the planet telescopically, though its gibbous disk remains rather small and approximately seven-eighths illuminated.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
18 May 2026
-
The trick is not to chase every bright idea.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
Adjective
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This vibrant stone's light green hue works especially well in breakfast nooks and cheery sunrooms.—
Rachel Silva,
Martha Stewart,
15 May 2026
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Their bright, cheery blooms are great additions to cut arrangements.—
Nellah Bailey McGough,
Southern Living,
12 May 2026
Adjective
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Johnson’s Anaia is much sweeter, and though there’s some ferocity inside her too, the movie leaves her in a compassionate, optimistic place.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
15 May 2026
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Everyone on the Titan mission is, with good reason, more optimistic about meeting their own challenges.—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
Thursday’s rainfall was set to give way to a sunny, balmy Friday before temperatures climb throughout the weekend, the National Weather Service said.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
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In fact, according to the World Data Center for Meteorology, an agency that is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Sacramento is the sunniest place on earth for four consecutive months each year, June through September.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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With early voting underway, the former state attorney general kept the event brief and upbeat.—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
12 May 2026
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So the end of The Comeback felt almost bizarrely upbeat, especially knowing that Valerie is going to be okay anyway, since the journey of the show brought her closer to husband Mark (Damian Young) and Mark is making plenty of money for the both of them.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
11 May 2026
Adjective
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As Thomas’ parents, Katina Smith and Bobby Thomas, unveiled their son’s smiling statue in the Broncos’ Ring of Fame Plaza last Sunday, as scores of his former teammates looked on in sadness and joy, Miller was 800 miles away in Dallas, gearing up for a game against the Cowboys.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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After a rejuvenating affair with buoyant co-star Albert Finney while filming Two For the Road, the Ferrers finally divorced in 1968.—
Hadley Hall Meares,
Vanity Fair,
15 May 2026
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Wolves 0-2 Fulham Everton vs Sunderland From the buoyant mood of a month ago, heading into a home Merseyside derby with genuine hopes of beating Liverpool to Champions League qualification, Everton are now five games without a win.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cheerful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cheerful. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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