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
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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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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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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
-
In recent years, Hollywood decided adult comedies were not good bets in movie theaters, and instead focused heavily on superheroes and animated films.—
Rodney Ho,
AJC.com,
22 May 2026 -
Toons boom across the Croisette this year, with colorful features opening Critics’ Week, closing Directors’ Fortnight, and appearing across nearly every section — further cementing Cannes’ status as a premier launchpad for animated cinema.—
Ben Croll,
Variety,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
Behind the black shades, the 22-year-old looked like a mirror image of her mom, channeling Paltrow's signature nonchalant pose.—
Chanel Vargas,
InStyle,
5 June 2026
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The toxic dating myth that's derailing our relationships Being unbothered and nonchalant has become a dating ideal, accelerated by a swiping culture that has eroded our ability to connect in person.—
Sabrina Romanoff,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
Adjective
-
Margaret, like Daniel, ends up on the lam, and Spielberg whisks the audience along for these two merry chases.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
9 June 2026
-
Reddit threads and gossip pages are ablaze with speculation about who will get the invite, but Swift seems to be opting for a more-the-merrier approach.—
Anna Grace Lee,
Vogue,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
This tiger red balayage on a brunette base is as cheerful as a sunny day.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
13 June 2026
-
Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | Getty Images Shortly before the opening of Nasdaq trading on Friday, Elon Musk stepped in front of a cheerful crowd at SpaceX’s company town in Texas.—
Jordan Novet,Lora Kolodny,
CNBC,
13 June 2026
Adjective
-
Ex-Arsenal player Héctor Bellerín wore bright pink on the Louis Vuitton catwalk in 2019, while Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga walked for Balenciaga in 2022.—
Sheena McKenzie,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
-
Deneb is the brightest star in the constellation Cygnus the Swan.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
7 June 2026
Adjective
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My mother’s world is held together by small, joyful acts of togetherness.—
Lucia Aronica,
CNBC,
10 June 2026
-
The telegram’s design is joyful and vivid, featuring illustrations of tiny hands tossing multi-colored hats and flowers into the air in a gesture of congratulation.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
Adjective
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Gamma rays are the most energetic form of light, and they are produced by some of the universe’s most extreme phenomena.—
Christopher Karwin,
The Conversation,
8 June 2026
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The festive, charming and energetic North American tour of the Broadway production is packed with as much nostalgia as new characters that are doppelgangers for the original series’ heroes and villains, and who often challenge our assumptions about their infamous families.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
Summer practically begs for a more effortless, carefree approach to beauty.—
Rebecca Norris,
InStyle,
8 June 2026
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Bid farewell to your carefree days of eating carbohydrates without the assistance of a steroid injection.—
Jay Ruttenberg,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Cite this Entry
“Gay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gay. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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