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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of festive
For a splash of color, accessorize with Neous’s cherry-red heeled sandals and Etro’s festive beaded bag.
—
Laura Jackson, Vogue, 14 May 2026
Walking back to your room from the Superdome after attending the festival with thousands of other attendees is often more comforting and festive than waiting for a rideshare.
—Essence, 13 May 2026
Olivia Wilde enjoyed a festive excursion to Disneyland with her two children, Otis and Daisy, in December 2022.
—Mackenzie Schmidt, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
The morning kicked off with a burst of energy from special guests who highlighted the community’s enthusiasm for hands-on product experiences and quality verification, while the afternoon took on a festive air with lively appearances and crowd engagement.
—Lucy Jones
may 12, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for festive
Laura Jackson, Vogue, 14 May 2026
Walking back to your room from the Superdome after attending the festival with thousands of other attendees is often more comforting and festive than waiting for a rideshare.
—Essence, 13 May 2026
Olivia Wilde enjoyed a festive excursion to Disneyland with her two children, Otis and Daisy, in December 2022.
—Mackenzie Schmidt, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
The morning kicked off with a burst of energy from special guests who highlighted the community’s enthusiasm for hands-on product experiences and quality verification, while the afternoon took on a festive air with lively appearances and crowd engagement.
—Lucy Jones
may 12, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for festive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for festive
Adjective
-
The picture’s eclectic cast, which included Anouk Aimée, Greta Scacchi and Maximilian Schell (with cameos by Faye Dunaway, Holly Hunter and Jeff Goldblum), swirled its merry way across the grand event in search of romance, fame and the ever-elusive movie deal.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
But in the cycling ecosystem, the Rockets are still minnows, a bunch of merry men with a camera — up against teams funded by international business conglomerates and nation states.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
Fishing boats sat docked along the pier, bouncing on top of the water like a row of jolly babies.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
-
The neighborhood Neighboring St Moritz was adopted in the 19th century by all those jolly-hockey-stick Brits, who introduced skiing and tobogganing, but little Sils Maria has always been more cerebral.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Disrupting the possibility of cheerful solitude is both a stylistic and social shift, disturbing the film’s non-narrative serenity while depicting how dismantling the safety net displaces basic functions onto those least able to bear them.—
Vadim Rizov,
IndieWire,
16 May 2026
-
The care home Marie-Lou runs is a sprawling establishment, with lush, cheerful grounds.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Festive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/festive. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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