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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Recent Examples of gleeful
After a deluge of videos poured out of the fallen city in October, which showed gleeful RSF soldiers murdering POWs and terrified civilians, leadership has cracked down on the sharing of videos.
—
Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 5 Dec. 2025
The gleeful, unrepentant suspension of civil liberties by the state would soon become the norm in 21st century America.
—Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 5 Dec. 2025
Much of the credit for the explosion of interest in the league’s showcase can be chalked up to Madden’s gleeful takeover of the holiday and the Cowboys’ dynastic ’90s run.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 27 Nov. 2025
But Tinsel Town is most effective when concentrating on Brad’s inevitable heartwarming transformation from arrogant movie star to gleeful member of the panto’s hardworking ensemble, and his newfound maturity in terms of being a loving father to his daughter.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gleeful
Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 5 Dec. 2025
The gleeful, unrepentant suspension of civil liberties by the state would soon become the norm in 21st century America.
—Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 5 Dec. 2025
Much of the credit for the explosion of interest in the league’s showcase can be chalked up to Madden’s gleeful takeover of the holiday and the Cowboys’ dynastic ’90s run.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 27 Nov. 2025
But Tinsel Town is most effective when concentrating on Brad’s inevitable heartwarming transformation from arrogant movie star to gleeful member of the panto’s hardworking ensemble, and his newfound maturity in terms of being a loving father to his daughter.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gleeful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gleeful
Adjective
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Besides its prominent cloud belts, Jupiter's greatest telescopic treasure are its four Galilean moons that run a merry race with each other around the planet, changing their respective positions from hour to hour and night to night.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
7 Jan. 2026
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The residents were excited to see both, but the real dog hopped down and went on its merry way, while Jennie stuck around to be snuggled.—
Rena Goldman,
EverydayHealth.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Ezra Shaw / Getty Images The San Francisco 49ers held a Christmas Eve practice Wednesday without their jolliest player.—
Matt Barrows,
New York Times,
25 Dec. 2025
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Wolff checks his list twice, and then heads off on his jolly mission, delivering gifts, goodness, and a reminder that the need is growing.—
Carolyn Gusoff,
CBS News,
25 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Our list spans 84 years of festive favorites and hidden gems.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Nov. 2025
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The end of year signals holiday cheer, festive feasts and of course, the yearly return of Spotify Wrapped — the streaming platform's annual review highlighting users' listening habits for the year.—
Diana Leyva,
Nashville Tennessean,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Sweater nails feel cozy and cheerful in the winter, especially in a shocking shade of scarlet.—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
InStyle,
9 Jan. 2026
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Citrus Wreaths Create cheerful wreaths that lean on in-season oranges and lemons for pops of color.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gleeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gleeful. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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