1
as in animated
having much high-spirited energy and movement
couples dancing a gay, fast-paced jig
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in bright
serving to lift one's spirits
the skylark's gay song lifted me out of my gloom
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gay
Adjective
-
The show's only limit is its imagination, as fans have already seen Captain Pike and his crew delight in musical and animated episodes.—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
2 Jan. 2026 -
The sequel, which has the Ghostbusters facing off with the spirit of Vigo the Carpathian and his profoundly negative vibes, ends in a joyous celebration that brings the Big Apple together while an animated Statue of Liberty stomps to the rescue.—
James Grebey,
Vulture,
30 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Her nonchalant, soft-glam is so perfectly mesmerizing, my TikTok and social media feeds are flooded with tutorials trying to re-create her signature style.—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
8 Jan. 2026
-
One fictional and the other real, the drug lords look nonchalant.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
But don’t let the tragic tale color your impression of the Park; during the holidays its annual Christmas at the Falls event transforms the area into one of the merriest and brightest spots around.—
Jennifer Stewart Kornegay,
Southern Living,
4 Nov. 2025
-
To usher in the return of all things merry and bright, Dunkin' is integrating a handful of new items to its holiday menu.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Cheeky faux finishes played a big part in realizing that vision, as did cheerful color washing.—
Elizabeth Kiefer,
Architectural Digest,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The account has already attracted over 63,000 followers, many of whom originally believed the cheerful residents were real.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Bure is keeping her faith — and her Christmas crown — shining bright.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Researchers have discovered the brightest and most powerful flare ever seen from a supermassive black hole.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Junkaroo, a kaleidoscopic, centuries-old street parade rooted in West African traditions and a joyful window into Bahamian heritage.—
Mark Ellwood,
AFAR Media,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Coming back to this joyful city to be honored is a very precious moment.—
Abid Rahman,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Whether that’s stand in the pocket, whether that’s run, whether that’s scramble, whether that’s hand the ball off 30 times and be energetic about it.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
-
The show channels a certain energetic, zany sense of humor viewers could recognize from their own adolescent friendships and antics, culminating in a five-season run and a 2021–2023 revival on Paramount+.—
Will Harris,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
After critics picked apart her appearance during the 2015 Wimbledon tennis tournament, Williams took to social media and retorted with a carefree beach selfie.—
Grace Gavilanes,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The decades-old restaurant is nestled in a 2-story building in Elizabeth, serving up barbecue shrimp and live music and carefree N’awlins vibes.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Jan. 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Gay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gay. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share