gay

adjective

ˈgā How to pronounce gay (audio)
Definition of gaynext
1
as in animated
having much high-spirited energy and movement couples dancing a gay, fast-paced jig

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nonchalant
having or showing freedom from worries or trouble a gay, thoughtless girl who didn't care whether her work was done or not

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in merry
indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor had a gay old time at the party

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in cheerful
having or showing a good mood or disposition with a gay toss of his coat over his shoulder, the dapper old gentleman set off for the party

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in bright
serving to lift one's spirits the skylark's gay song lifted me out of my gloom

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in joyful
joyously unrestrained it was the era of the flappers, and young women were gay, bold, and defiant of convention

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective gay contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of gay are animated, lively, sprightly, and vivacious. While all these words mean "keenly alive and spirited," gay stresses complete freedom from care and overflowing spirits.

the gay spirit of Paris in the 1920s

When is it sensible to use animated instead of gay?

The words animated and gay can be used in similar contexts, but animated applies to what is spirited and active.

an animated discussion of current events

When might lively be a better fit than gay?

In some situations, the words lively and gay are roughly equivalent. However, lively suggests briskness, alertness, or energy.

a lively debate on the issues

When would sprightly be a good substitute for gay?

While the synonyms sprightly and gay are close in meaning, sprightly suggests lightness and spirited vigor of manner or wit.

a tuneful, sprightly musical

When is vivacious a more appropriate choice than gay?

The synonyms vivacious and gay are sometimes interchangeable, but vivacious suggests an activeness of gesture and wit, often playful or alluring.

a vivacious party host

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gay
  1. animated
  2. nonchalant
  3. merry
  4. cheerful
  5. bright
  6. joyful
  7. energetic
  8. carefree
Adjective
  • The animated film, made with a budget between $150 million and $200 million, has earned upward of $763 million globally less than a month after its release.
    — Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • The Rick and Morty world is one of the most involved animated series ever created and obviously takes up a lot of brain power to pull together.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 6 July 2026
Definition of animated
Adjective
  • That play effectively started once defender Tim Ream tracked down a goal kick near the half-line, then passed up to Tyler Adams for a nonchalant back-heel pass to Tillman.
    — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 2 July 2026
  • Chisholm is normally pretty nonchalant, and manager Aaron Boone is rather stoic and defends his players sometimes to a fault.
    — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of nonchalant
Adjective
  • No decision fatigue or awkward conversations to be had; the more, the merrier, baby!
    — Emma Specter, Vogue, 6 July 2026
  • Some may argue that the more the merrier applies as much to advocacy for social justice as to anything else.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 28 June 2026
Definition of merry
Adjective
  • Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams is reportedly of interest to United as a cheap and cheerful option.
    — Carl Anka, New York Times, 9 July 2026
  • Ahead, gardening experts share the heat- and sun-loving annuals to plant in July, from cheerful border plants to towering blooms.
    — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 5 July 2026
Definition of cheerful
Adjective
  • The White Sox are winning, and the future is suddenly bright.
    — Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 12 July 2026
  • The bright and airy Hotel San Luis Obispo (Hotel SLO,) which calls itself a modern urban resort, boasts The Ox and Anchor restaurant which has earned a Michelin Key.
    — Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
Definition of bright
Adjective
  • The singer leaned all the way into the feel-good and joyful song, dropping pink, white and orange balloons from the ceiling as confetti shot in the air.
    — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 11 July 2026
  • We were treated to a commercial-free evening of exciting entertaining, educational, emotional and joyful programming.
    — Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2026
Definition of joyful
Adjective
  • Even small toe-taps or a light head bob accompanies the least energetic.
    — Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 12 July 2026
  • Adrian, creative and energetic from childhood on—and raised in the presence of movie cameras—became a filmmaker himself, fusing a passion for extreme skiing with his cinematic sensibility.
    — Marina Harss, New Yorker, 10 July 2026
Definition of energetic
Adjective
  • Being in vacation mode also ushers in a more carefree attitude because there’s something magical about summer activities like catching lightning bugs and watching the blazing oranges and pinks of a setting sun dip below the horizon.
    — Gretchen McKay, Boston Herald, 8 July 2026
  • The self-aware smirk and carefree bounce of the record is a bit of a surprise, though.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 6 July 2026
Definition of carefree
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.

Browse Nearby Words

gawps
gay
gayness
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Cite this Entry

“Gay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gay. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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