gaiety

noun

ˈgā-ə-tē How to pronounce gaiety (audio)
variants also gayety
Definition of gaietynext
1
as in attire
dressy clothing attendees of the masquerade ball arrived dressed in all their gaiety

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in festivity
joyful or festive activity loved the gaiety of the annual harvest festival the gaiety of the wedding reception

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cheerfulness
a mood characterized by high spirits and amusement and often accompanied by laughter the gaiety of children enjoying an outing at an amusement park

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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 gaiety The service itself is fleet on its feet, which lends to the gaiety of simply being in this space, with a noise level not to high (except for a wholly out of place intrusion of thumping music Boulud would never have in France). — John Mariani, Forbes.com, 25 Mar. 2026 Later, for nearly 60 years, the lights were out and the gaiety muted in this once-vibrant community. — Dorothy Jenkins Fields, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026 For Godard, humor is performative, not just a way of getting a laugh but of getting a rise—or of setting the clock back and imposing a boyish gaiety on the stern responsibilities of adults. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 Nov. 2025 The opening Allegro vacillates between punchy jabs and fluttery gaiety. — Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 13 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gaiety
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaiety
  1. attire
  2. festivity
  3. cheerfulness
  4. finery
  5. celebration
  6. glee
  7. costume
  8. jollity
Noun
  • His fluctuating weight, ruddy cheeks and occasionally ill-fitting attire — commenters on social media rarely needed an excuse to zero in on him.
    — Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Tuipulotu, who was a full participant in minicamp, did individual work off to the side during Wednesday’s practice and was in general workout attire rather than in a helmet, jersey and football pants like his teammates.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026
Definition of attire
Noun
  • Saturday’s festivities will include crafts, story time, a scavenger hunt and the chance to see hundreds of fish in their colorful new environment for the first time in months.
    — Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The festivities started in 1841, and today’s visitors enjoy some of the same activities, like animal exhibitions and farm product demonstrations.
    — Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of festivity
Noun
  • Positive qualities—promptness, diligence, cheerfulness—sped up your ascent through the ranks; negative ones—laziness, dissipation, late mornings—slowed it down.
    — Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 23 July 2026
  • How is one not enamored of the Dutch fans’ togetherness and cheerfulness, or the costumes and smiles of the Japanese fans?
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 25 June 2026
Definition of cheerfulness
Noun
  • Splurging on finery here even extends to exhausted parents — Makie also has designs for adults.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 31 July 2026
  • While George favors blue suits over the gray ones that dominated a young William’s wardrobe, the royal relatives still look alike when they’re dressed in their formal finery.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 22 July 2026
Definition of finery
Noun
  • Trump has managed to bring up grass at events as varied as the signing of an executive order on TikTok and the 2025 White House celebration of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The community came together Wednesday to wish the young talent good luck at a send-off celebration and pizza party.
    — Allen Devlin, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of celebration
Noun
  • Aegon cackles with glee as Tyland ducks to the ground and his enemies snap, crackle, pop in the night.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • To the director’s glee, modern audiences may be more uncomfortable with Erika and Elliot’s lopsided power dynamic than the sight of sweet-faced Hoffman in a pig mask and panties.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026
Definition of glee
Noun
  • Police are reviewing purported footage of the person in the clown costume and collecting additional surveillance video.
    — Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Stajmiger spends time in the makeup chair before slipping into Beetlejuice's signature costume, completing the transformation from actor to one of Broadway's most recognizable characters.
    — Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of costume
Noun
  • The finale is an ambiguous mix of jollity and agitation, with a piccolo shrieking above a militant march.
    — Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026
  • Winston Peacock’s Ghost of Christmas Present is especially winning with decidedly John Belushi-esque jollity.
    — Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 10 Dec. 2025
Definition of jollity

Browse Nearby Words

gagsters
gaiety
gaily
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Cite this Entry

“Gaiety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gaiety. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of gaiety for Spanish Speakers

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