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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

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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
Adjective
  • The tour news was first shared with select media and fans at a top-secret private event Sunday night at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland that included a viewing of Rush’s induction speeches and performance and ended with a loose, animated interview with Lee and Lifeson.
    Annie Zaleski, Variety, 6 Oct. 2025
  • The director and father of two made that concern a driving principle of his new film, Scarlet, a fantastical animated adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet that opens at New York Film Festival next week.
    Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Instead, the record reads more like an attempt at appearing nonchalant towards the negative noise, while simultaneously only focusing on it, sandwiched between a few peppy love songs.
    Bianca Davino, Refinery29, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The designer might give off a rock star vibe with her nonchalant image, but deep inside, craftsmanship is near and dear to her heart, like the thousands of vinyl records she’s collected throughout her career.
    Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Food Network unveiled its lineup of more than 50 hours of holiday episodes and PEOPLE has the exclusive first-look at all the merry and bright shows.
    Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Discovering its contents, day in and day out throughout the course of the merriest month of the year, will give you a taste of Glasshouse Fragrances’ bestselling formulas that please even the pickiest of noses.
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Their home is decorated with friendly pumpkins and paper bats, adding to the cheerful atmosphere.
    Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 10 Oct. 2025
  • His cheerful demeanor has returned, and the family is adjusting to life with EpiPens tucked in every bag.
    Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Their observations revealed an ULIRG hidden just behind the bright quasar, invisible to traditional optical telescopes.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 12 Oct. 2025
  • The bright pink and green exterior of the secluded river lodge perfectly matched her and her fiancé's wedding colors.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • To Chinara, the gesture resonates, sometimes in joyful tears, as Kevin always having his brother on the journey with him.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Beginning Wednesday night and continuing into Thursday, joyful relatives of hostages and their supporters spilled into Tel Aviv’s central square, which has become the main gathering point in the effort to free the captives.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Johnson, who spent the past year-plus on Miami’s practice squad, will give the Dolphins a fifth available cornerback if Storm Duck isn’t active.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2025
  • The Phillips 66 refinery will start shutting down this month and end active fuel production at the end of 2025, the company said.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Showgirl doesn’t have any songs about the emotional battles of love versus fear, and why should it — Taylor’s entitled to a breezy, carefree, going-to-the-chapel album if anyone is.
    Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Combined with pearls, silk scarves, and a classic bag, this outfit idea feels carefree and bohemian.
    Clare Holden, Glamour, 6 Oct. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Gay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gay. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.

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