as in merry
indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor
the gleeful atmosphere that envelops the host city of the Super Bowl
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gleeful
Dracula exhibits a gleeful, chaotic vulgarity, yet Jude’s sideways vampire history concludes on a note of reconciliation and hope.
—
Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2025
The first breach was awful: humiliating for the women who had to see their images passed around, and grim given the number of men making fun of those images with such open, gleeful cruelty.
—Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 30 July 2025
Despite Hopper's gleeful overacting — and the last-minute script-doctoring efforts of Joss Whedon — genuine humor is nearly as scarce as dirt.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 29 July 2025
Colbert chanted, rubbing his hands together and approaching the camera with a gleeful grin.
—Judy Berman, Time, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for gleeful
Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2025
The first breach was awful: humiliating for the women who had to see their images passed around, and grim given the number of men making fun of those images with such open, gleeful cruelty.
—Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 30 July 2025
Despite Hopper's gleeful overacting — and the last-minute script-doctoring efforts of Joss Whedon — genuine humor is nearly as scarce as dirt.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 29 July 2025
Colbert chanted, rubbing his hands together and approaching the camera with a gleeful grin.
—Judy Berman, Time, 25 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for gleeful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gleeful
Adjective
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Great American Family is making sure that everyone's television screens remain merry and bright this holiday season!—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Sep. 2025
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Big Sur has enjoyed a reputation as a dream destination long before Big Little Lies and its merry band of accidentally murderous suburban mothers came around.—
Elly Leavitt,
Vogue,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Lily Mathé, one of the orchestra’s best violinists, vividly remembered being made to play jolly tunes in the SS officers’ mess at Auschwitz every evening while the guards ate their dinner.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Sep. 2025
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Instead of its usual jolly cartoons, the channel began broadcasting footage of Russian military parades accompanied by music of the Russian nationalist singer Oleg Gazmanov.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Trump tariffs stalled Halloween orders About 90% of festive products – merchandise associated with holidays or other seasonal occasions – are imported from China, according to the South China Morning Post.—
George Petras,
USA Today,
27 Sep. 2025
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If the typical harvest color palette is not your style, there’s finally a solution to finding festive fall decor that’s not orange.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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These cheerful yellow dishes remind us of our grandparents’ tablescapes with colorful arrays of roasted vegetables and desserts filled with fresh berries.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
25 Sep. 2025
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Garden statues peeking from behind planters, a vintage wheelbarrow brimming with fall blooms, or even cheerful pinwheels catching the autumn breeze can add charm.—
Angie Hicks,
Boston Herald,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gleeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gleeful. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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