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
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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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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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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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gay
Adjective
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Their home is decorated with friendly pumpkins and paper bats, adding to the cheerful atmosphere.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
10 Oct. 2025
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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
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Their observations revealed an ULIRG hidden just behind the bright quasar, invisible to traditional optical telescopes.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Oct. 2025
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Combined with pearls, silk scarves, and a classic bag, this outfit idea feels carefree and bohemian.—
Clare Holden,
Glamour,
6 Oct. 2025
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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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