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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

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.
Recent Examples of gay With her momentum, Irene is already laying a path to deliver what a gay prophecy once foretold: a Porkchop queen who dark horses her way to win All Stars. Chris Feil, Vulture, 9 May 2025 Black and gay actor Billy Porter, one of the world's most famed dandies, is reportedly banned from the affair after racial criticism of Wintour. Jay Stahl, USA Today, 7 May 2025 And then 10% of those men were gay and the other 10% were husbands. Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 2 May 2025 Reid, who is openly gay, has denied the allegations and claimed he is being targeted for his sexuality. Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 2 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for gay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gay
Adjective
  • Its production pedigree and glib roasting of materialism through the magic-using preppy Kaz set it apart from the majority of animated and live-action series alike.
    Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 2 May 2025
  • New installments in development include a fifth chapter in the main series, an animated prequel, and a spin-off focused on Donnie Yen’s blind assassin, Caine.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • The Heat and Grizzlies gave the people nonchalant regular-season basketball, and got thrown out the club as a result.
    The Athletic NBA Staff, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
  • But despite his nonchalant vibe, Poulter is completely locked in, never distracted by the frequent comings and goings around us.
    Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Not so merry Mary Nothing was ever easy for Mary this season.
    Dalton Ross, EW.com, 8 May 2025
  • Paul Kent and his merry musical men will be live from 7-9 p.m., Los Gatos Coffee Company, 101 W. Main St., Los Gatos.
    Jake Richardson, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Montecito High School Para-educator Lindsay Swanson, an employee since August 2015, was praised for her passion and dedication while serving with a cheerful and positive demeanor.
    Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2025
  • The show follows the adventures of José, a cheerful and curious character, along with his best friends —Obi, a playful rabbit, and Kim, a curious monkey.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 9 May 2025
Adjective
  • The industry's brightest stars, including Lainey Wilson, Reba McEntire and more, gathered at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, to find out who is taking home the night's biggest honors.
    Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2025
  • The berries sink into the batter creating jammy pockets of tender fruit, enhanced by the bright lemon zest in the sponge.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 9 May 2025
Adjective
  • Kate Middleton and Prince William shared a joyful new photo taken by Kate of their daughter to mark the occasion on Friday, May 2.
    Stephanie Petit, People.com, 2 May 2025
  • Her customers, a mix of friends, family and strangers, always seemed to leave her de facto studio feeling joyful.
    Tariro Mzezewa, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • Police may switch from active pursuit when the driver is speeding or behaving erratically.
    Kaitlyn Huamani, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2025
  • Transfer portal Campbell hasn’t written much about the portal, and Texas Tech has been an active user in recent years.
    Chris Vannini, New York Times, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • That carefree versatility mirrors Tecca’s creative process — especially these days.
    Christopher Claxton, Billboard, 12 May 2025
  • In the now-viral clip, Jeff struts through their office wearing a beauty sheet mask, pops balloons with carefree flair, walks around wielding a mini mic and, most memorably, sits shirtless while receiving a vaccine.
    Ashley Vega, People.com, 7 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Gay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gay. Accessed 18 May. 2025.

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