1
as in cheerfulness
a mood characterized by high spirits and amusement and often accompanied by laughter
rather than mourn our friend's death we celebrated his life, and his memorial service was more notable for its festivity than its funereal gloom
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in celebration
a time or program of special events and entertainment in honor of something
year-long festivities will mark the 300th anniversary of the city's founding
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in merrymaking
joyful or festive activity
in keeping with their habit of doing everything in a big way, the couple's wedding will entail a whole weekend of festivity
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 festivity
With only two steps — chop and mix — cowboy caviar is a fast last-minute recipe for firework festivities.
—
Samara Gerstle, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 June 2025
Fireworks, parades and festivities are set to make a big boom for Independence Day at parks, beaches and other venues throughout San Diego County.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 June 2025
Officers stationed along the boulevard handed out yellow and blue wristbands for parents to write their names and phone numbers on, then strap onto their children’s wrists — a precaution in case they got separated during the festivities.
—Kaitlyn Pohly, Miami Herald, 22 June 2025
Adding to the weekend’s festivities is Lakefest, an annual festival featuring live music, food and vendors to celebrate community and culture.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for festivity
Samara Gerstle, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 June 2025
Fireworks, parades and festivities are set to make a big boom for Independence Day at parks, beaches and other venues throughout San Diego County.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 June 2025
Officers stationed along the boulevard handed out yellow and blue wristbands for parents to write their names and phone numbers on, then strap onto their children’s wrists — a precaution in case they got separated during the festivities.
—Kaitlyn Pohly, Miami Herald, 22 June 2025
Adding to the weekend’s festivities is Lakefest, an annual festival featuring live music, food and vendors to celebrate community and culture.
—Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for festivity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for festivity
Noun
-
As the country’s friends have looked on in horror and its rivals have watched with glee, the United States has gone from indispensable to insufferable.—
KORI SCHAKE,
Foreign Affairs,
24 June 2025
-
The crowd stood up and with nervous laughter streamed toward the lobby, then galloped into the street with the glee of prisoners released.—
Andrew Kay,
Harpers Magazine,
28 May 2025
Noun
-
Reactions to the sudden move varied: Those in the community who considered the festival a nuisance were relieved.—
Adriana Pérez,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2025
-
Many of the beers that medal at each festival have limited distribution and are sometimes only available at the taproom at the brewery where they were produced.—
Erik Ofgang,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
Noun
-
Their everlasting merrymaking might seem warm and fuzzy at first glance, but in truth, there is a gloomy undercurrent to their existence, hiding just beneath the surface.—
Tomris Laffly,
Variety,
25 May 2025
-
Alternatively, the Perry Lane Hotel, as well as the brand-new, Ann Savannah, will put you in the heart of the merrymaking.—
Madeline Weinfield,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Pratt was released on bail in June 1997, to the cheers of his supporters.—
Christopher Goffard,
Los Angeles Times,
28 June 2025
-
Indeed, the vibe for most of the night was mainly triumphant and celebratory as Abel basked in the love of thousands of fans, pausing in between tracks and looking up with a smile as the crowd erupted in cheers.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
26 June 2025
Noun
-
By the end of Episode 5, Chloe, Chelsea, and the Ratliff brothers dive headfirst into the revelry—setting the stage for one of the season’s most unexpected and cringeworthy turns.—
Ashlee Marie Preston,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
-
Then the dream warped into a nightmare, as some wretched souls began to freeze mid-step or drown in slush, while manic revelries raged all around them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2025
Noun
-
There’s no shortage of Christmas culinary merriment for people heading to Orlando during December to ring in the New Year or celebrate the season.—
Caitlin Palumbo,
Forbes,
13 Dec. 2024
-
That merriment includes exploring some of the secluded isles on the Tuscan coastline.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
10 May 2025
Noun
-
Some years at Cannes, the Med’s most effervescent seasonal kickoff, the bubbles and spice of the social froth provide the jollity.—
Guy Martin,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
-
Sign up Eating and drinking (Image credit: Riverside Luxury Cruises) The first thing to say about eating on The Ravel is that there is no Captain's Table or forced jollity with other passengers.—
James Rampton,
theweek,
6 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
With the Red Army closing in, such gatherings, expressions of a desperate gaiety, a fin d’une époque efflorescence, weren’t rare.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
-
With the Red Army closing in, such gatherings, expressions of a desperate gaiety, a fin d’une époque efflorescence, weren’t rare.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Festivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/festivity. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share