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 puppy also stomps its paws and moves around in animated excitement.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Dec. 2025 -
But several attempts are interrupted by visitors, including an animated Crosby.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
3 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
This nonchalant maneuver enables Jefferson to extol America as the seat and refuge of liberty over and against the contradictions of the hour.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 June 2026
-
Their displays are sometimes held up as examples of sprezzatura, a kind of nonchalant disregard for the rules of fashion.—
Jacob Brogan,
The Atlantic,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
The picture’s eclectic cast, which included Anouk Aimée, Greta Scacchi and Maximilian Schell (with cameos by Faye Dunaway, Holly Hunter and Jeff Goldblum), swirled its merry way across the grand event in search of romance, fame and the ever-elusive movie deal.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
Despite his serious voice, Gamboa highlighted González’s cheerful character.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 July 2025
-
The cheerful flowers look lovely massed in perennial beds and are perfect for naturalizing into meadows and prairie plantings.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
3 July 2025
Adjective
-
Lutnick walked over the crowd of steelworkers in their hard hats and bright orange fireproof protective gear, a dozen wide and a dozen deep, and shook hands with each one.—
Salena Zito,
The Washington Examiner,
14 June 2026
-
Initial crowds were eager to watch the twisty conspiracy thriller on the biggest and brightest screens, with premium large formats representing a mighty 48% of grosses.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
My mother’s world is held together by small, joyful acts of togetherness.—
Lucia Aronica,
CNBC,
10 June 2026
-
Sometimes called America’s backyard, the South Lawn was until now known for low-contact sports and joyful events geared toward children or bipartisanship, like the annual Easter Egg Roll or the congressional picnic.—
Will Weissert,
Chicago Tribune,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
The outfield grass was the place to be, not only for those watching the game but also for the host of energetic kids playing soccer in center and left fields.—
Luis Melecio-Zambrano,
Mercury News,
14 June 2026
-
To get there, the capsule will have to endure a fiery atmospheric reentry at a velocity of 12 km per second—a faster, more energetic plunge than those experienced by China’s previous lunar sample-return missions.—
Andrew Jones,
Scientific American,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
And then there’s the carefree feeling of arriving at your destination already dressed for a post-red-eye brunch.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Dec. 2025
-
This is the place to truly embrace that carefree camp attitude—while staying in the comfort of a luxury resort.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
26 Nov. 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.
Cite this Entry
“Gay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gay. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
