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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 gleeful
For Armando’s fellow fugitives, who imagine the grisly scene by reading the paper, the story is a gleeful distraction from paranoia and pain.
—
Michael Snyder, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
The Masked Singer is a gleeful, genuinely unexpected addition to the reality singing genre, and its popularity with fans is intense.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026
Her gleeful cruelty was matched only by the audacity of her incompetence.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Their wonky New Orleans bounce ideas, their mellow Jersey club hits, hell, even the gleeful beatjacking across their mixtapes, are all so thrilling and open to possibility compared to the practically conservative rage rap on wonderful.
—Mano Sundaresan, Pitchfork, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gleeful
Michael Snyder, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
The Masked Singer is a gleeful, genuinely unexpected addition to the reality singing genre, and its popularity with fans is intense.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026
Her gleeful cruelty was matched only by the audacity of her incompetence.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Their wonky New Orleans bounce ideas, their mellow Jersey club hits, hell, even the gleeful beatjacking across their mixtapes, are all so thrilling and open to possibility compared to the practically conservative rage rap on wonderful.
—Mano Sundaresan, Pitchfork, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gleeful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gleeful
Adjective
-
Mau's reckless band of merry men inevitably leave a trail of bodies in their wake, leading police captain Brander Lawson (Wagner Moura) to investigate the criminal takeover of Janix.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Petrie, Doz and Morrow play multiple roles, including a gossipy Greek chorus and the band of merry fisherman (truly an astonishing array of Canadian accent work on display).—
Katie Walsh,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Of course, even for me there were still some jolly moments.—
Christine Smallwood,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Vivacious Mars dances with jolly Jupiter, energizing your 6th House of Practice and your 10th House of Ambition.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Confetti Dot, in cheerful red or navy, is a festive favorite and a go-to gift.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Items such as a plastic tablecloth and small plates or napkins can also be added to create a festive celebration.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Security grows as the emotional Moon in your 2nd House of Production trines cheerful Jupiter in your 10th House of Gains.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Apr. 2026
-
For a cheerful addition to your front door that looks warm and welcoming, look no further than this wreath.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gleeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gleeful. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
