as in merry
indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor
we arrived at the Christmas party to find everyone already in a festive mood, perhaps owing in part to the punch
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Recent Examples of festive
Other residents claim enthusiasm for the tournament is lacking nationwide, despite officials portraying the mood as festive.
—
Michael Rios, CNN Money, 10 June 2026
Heated Rivalry, about a pair of hockey rivals who are secretly lovers, broke out over the 2025 festive period and has become one of the most-talked about TV shows out there.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 9 June 2026
The festive, charming and energetic North American tour of the Broadway production is packed with as much nostalgia as new characters that are doppelgangers for the original series’ heroes and villains, and who often challenge our assumptions about their infamous families.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 4 June 2026
But many residents worry that the festive mood and infrastructure works risk papering over the security crisis that still affects their daily lives.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for festive
Michael Rios, CNN Money, 10 June 2026
Heated Rivalry, about a pair of hockey rivals who are secretly lovers, broke out over the 2025 festive period and has become one of the most-talked about TV shows out there.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 9 June 2026
The festive, charming and energetic North American tour of the Broadway production is packed with as much nostalgia as new characters that are doppelgangers for the original series’ heroes and villains, and who often challenge our assumptions about their infamous families.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 4 June 2026
But many residents worry that the festive mood and infrastructure works risk papering over the security crisis that still affects their daily lives.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for festive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for festive
Adjective
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Margaret, like Daniel, ends up on the lam, and Spielberg whisks the audience along for these two merry chases.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2026
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Reddit threads and gossip pages are ablaze with speculation about who will get the invite, but Swift seems to be opting for a more-the-merrier approach.—
Anna Grace Lee,
Vogue,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
Jason Maddy disappears into multiple roles including the sleazy diner owner, the jolly Napa depot manager who pre-reads everyone’s mail and the wise doctor who treats Tony after a car accident.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 June 2026
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He-Man was now a jolly, quip-ready hero, whose best friends were scaredy-cat Cringer (a green-and-yellow tiger who transformed into Battle Cat), and an annoying, hovering magician called Orko.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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This tropical mini dress has the cheerful, vacation-ready energy of pricier resort brands without the sticker shock.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
5 June 2026
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Tracks from bands like The Vaselines and Beat Happening add to the cheerful freneticism.—
Colin Wrenn,
Denver Post,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Festive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/festive. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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