gaiety

noun

ˈgā-ə-tē How to pronounce gaiety (audio)
variants also gayety
Definition of gaietynext
1
as in attire
dressy clothing attendees of the masquerade ball arrived dressed in all their gaiety

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in festivity
joyful or festive activity loved the gaiety of the annual harvest festival the gaiety of the wedding reception

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cheerfulness
a mood characterized by high spirits and amusement and often accompanied by laughter the gaiety of children enjoying an outing at an amusement park

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 gaiety The service itself is fleet on its feet, which lends to the gaiety of simply being in this space, with a noise level not to high (except for a wholly out of place intrusion of thumping music Boulud would never have in France). — John Mariani, Forbes.com, 25 Mar. 2026 Later, for nearly 60 years, the lights were out and the gaiety muted in this once-vibrant community. — Dorothy Jenkins Fields, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026 For Godard, humor is performative, not just a way of getting a laugh but of getting a rise—or of setting the clock back and imposing a boyish gaiety on the stern responsibilities of adults. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 Nov. 2025 The opening Allegro vacillates between punchy jabs and fluttery gaiety. — Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 13 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gaiety
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaiety
  1. attire
  2. festivity
  3. cheerfulness
  4. finery
  5. celebration
  6. glee
  7. costume
  8. jollity
Noun
  • All in all, the look was par for the course for Roan, well-known for her penchant for eye-catching attire.
    — Erin Wisti, Footwear News, 11 Oct. 2026
  • While there were some breathtaking gowns on display, these ready-to-wear pieces could easily be selected as the bridal attire for the entire wedding weekend.
    — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of attire
Noun
  • Thanks to off-season discounts, fall is a notoriously excellent time to prep your patio or backyard for next year’s outdoor festivities.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Kim and his cast joined the festivities, with the film starring host Kim Min-ha alongside Joo Jong-hyuk, Han Sun-hwa, Chang Ryul, Shim Eun-kyung, Lee Hee-jun, Jeon So-young and Kim Dong-hwi.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of festivity
Noun
  • The service Professionalism comes with genuine warmth, cheerfulness, and a sense of people absolutely loving their jobs.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Kikuko sometimes mistook Shigejiro’s cheerfulness for egoism owing to the distortions produced by her illness.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of cheerfulness
Noun
  • Obviously the bride and bridesmaids will wear wedding finery.
    — Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Over the course of several hours, a kaleidoscopic array of appetizers, mains and desserts were paraded out for the hundreds of guests wearing their Sunday finery.
    — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of finery
Noun
  • The festival arrives as Kansas City’s culinary landscape continues expanding, with Asian restaurants, cultural celebrations and food entrepreneurs gaining greater visibility throughout the region.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026
  • But when Gordon scored his touchdown against the Vikings, Wright was in the middle of the group celebration.
    — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of celebration
Noun
  • Privately, the Kremlin leader must be rubbing his hands with glee.
    — Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The glee with which the abbey was dismantled reflected centuries of tension between the town authorities and the monks.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of glee
Noun
  • The series puts an all-Korean cast in Western Baroque costume and was shot largely in Europe.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Have your camera ready when arriving or departing, as the staff usually perform an entertaining song and dance in traditional costumes.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of costume
Noun
  • But the rollicking jollity that accompanies the final two acts, which includes the entrance of pirates and the abduction of Marina to a brothel, robs the ending of some of its pathos.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The finale is an ambiguous mix of jollity and agitation, with a piccolo shrieking above a militant march.
    — Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026
Definition of jollity

Browse Nearby Words

gagsters
gaiety
gaily
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Cite this Entry

“Gaiety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gaiety. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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