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
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Recent Examples of festivity
President Trump raised $239 million for his inauguration festivities in January, a norm-shattering amount fueled by corporate America’s desire to curry favor with a famously transactional president.
—
Theodore Schleifer, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
The event’s festivities encompass traditional polka music and dancing, a pierogi eating contest, the crowning of Miss Dyngus Day, a street festival, an all-day performance by polka personality, DJ Kishka.
—Michele Herrmann, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
Look for new animations that nod to the festivities peppered throughout the ride’s digital games.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
The festivities culminate with a traditional cricket match between teams from east and west Bermuda that has all the islanders rooting for one team or another.
—Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for festivity
Theodore Schleifer, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
The event’s festivities encompass traditional polka music and dancing, a pierogi eating contest, the crowning of Miss Dyngus Day, a street festival, an all-day performance by polka personality, DJ Kishka.
—Michele Herrmann, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
Look for new animations that nod to the festivities peppered throughout the ride’s digital games.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
The festivities culminate with a traditional cricket match between teams from east and west Bermuda that has all the islanders rooting for one team or another.
—Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for festivity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for festivity
Noun
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Achieving that would bring not just sporting glee but could also solve many of their financial problems, with the tournament’s new format providing clubs with even more wealth.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2025
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Democrats were generally hiding any glee over their fortune, but some acknowledged the shifting winds.—
Al Weaver,
The Hill,
30 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The festival will screen 10 works featuring Garfield, eight of which will be projected from 35mm prints.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
23 Apr. 2025
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The festival will also feature an exclusive first look at Ken Burns‘ upcoming six-part, 12-hour docuseries The American Revolution, premiering Nov. 16 on PBS.—
Hilary Lewis,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
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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
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In fact, ancient Romans celebrated the day with a fertility festival with animal sacrifices and drunken merrymaking.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA TODAY,
13 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The crowd erupted in cheers in full support of the 23-year-old singer after his announcement.—
Laura Sirikul,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
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If that first cheer wasn't loud enough, Campbell had everyone, not just Patriots fans, loving his answer when asked what New England can expect from him right away.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Cleveland baseball can be unhinged revelry, or a biblical terror, and everything in between.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
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Opened in 1966 by Jay Sarno and Stanley Mallin to channel the opulence and revelry of the Roman Empire, the classic property stretched across six towers checked all the boxes.—
Katie Chang,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The visual directed by Nadia Lee Cohen and Charlie Denis dropped on Sunday (Dec. 22) and in it the Skims founder takes center stage in a blonde wig as a woozy party host crawling through the wreckage of holiday merriment gone sideways.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
23 Dec. 2024
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Kick the merriment factor into high gear with a J. Lohr Holiday Wine Pairing Dinner on Saturday, Dec. 14, featuring a seven-course culinary journey with dishes inspired by Italy, crafted by Rodney Baca, co-owner of The Shop by Chef Baca in downtown San Jose.—
Laura Ness,
The Mercury News,
8 Dec. 2024
Noun
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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
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While the jollity may look a bit different from city to city, these global destinations keep the holiday cheer going year after year.—
Caitlin Morton,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 Nov. 2023
Noun
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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
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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 May. 2025.
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