Definition of festivenext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 festive It was renewed for a third season and festive special last month. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2026 Finding the middle ground between cozy and witchy, Ratajkowski injected her own brand of downtown cool into her festive fall outfit with a pair of outsized, bug-eyed sunglasses. — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 21 Sep. 2026 From the famous Woolly Worm Festival, where locals cheer on fuzzy caterpillars in tiny races, to cozy afternoons at apple orchards and scenic drives up to Grandfather Mountain, fall here feels festive. — Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 19 Sep. 2026 Feeling festive, Klum wore two seperate looks, each with their own unique footwear. — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for festive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for festive
Adjective
  • The friendly staff, who wear black uniforms with lettering that identifies their duties add to the hotel’s merry atmosphere.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026
  • This is a place where adults make the pilgrimage to the legendary Pinto Ron and Pizza Pete tailgate spot in the Hammer Lot where Pinto Ron's team of merry pranksters pour shots of liquor into a bowling ball finger hole.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • The track opens with a sprinkle of piano before morphing into a jolly celebration that’s really going to hit this holiday season.
    — Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Both his suggestion and the jolly appreciation seem out of tune with the situation ‘far from home’, which may be a military manoeuvre involving mock battles and bayonet practice, or a preparation for actual combat.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • But the film hardly even merits such empty pastiche, and there’s little else to distinguish it from much cheap-and-cheerful streaming fodder in this genre space.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
  • In Phoenix, there was an energetic and cheerful young man by the name of Craig Wismer.
    — Lauren Weiner, Baltimore Sun, 28 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Festive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/festive. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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