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
Through gleeful anarchy, a variety of filters, and a kinetic score, the two Maries spoil themselves with sweets, outwit suitors, and desecrate the rituals of fine dining in a glorious climax of rebellion.
—
Jennifer Noyes, Air Mail, 25 Apr. 2026
This relic of a production, however, doesn’t feel particularly dangerous, shocking or even gleeful.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
Biles wrote alongside a gleeful February 2022 pic of the pair.
—Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Santat’s illustrations begin with straightforward, muted sincerity and become brighter, busier, and more gleeful—filling every corner of the page—as Sharpson’s narrator becomes ever more unhinged, ranting about fish spies, fish disguises, and fish taking over the world.
—Elise Broach, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gleeful
Jennifer Noyes, Air Mail, 25 Apr. 2026
This relic of a production, however, doesn’t feel particularly dangerous, shocking or even gleeful.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
Biles wrote alongside a gleeful February 2022 pic of the pair.
—Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Santat’s illustrations begin with straightforward, muted sincerity and become brighter, busier, and more gleeful—filling every corner of the page—as Sharpson’s narrator becomes ever more unhinged, ranting about fish spies, fish disguises, and fish taking over the world.
—Elise Broach, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gleeful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gleeful
Adjective
-
The picture’s eclectic cast, which included Anouk Aimée, Greta Scacchi and Maximilian Schell (with cameos by Faye Dunaway, Holly Hunter and Jeff Goldblum), swirled its merry way across the grand event in search of romance, fame and the ever-elusive movie deal.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
But in the cycling ecosystem, the Rockets are still minnows, a bunch of merry men with a camera — up against teams funded by international business conglomerates and nation states.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
He-Man was now a jolly, quip-ready hero, whose best friends were scaredy-cat Cringer (a green-and-yellow tiger who transformed into Battle Cat), and an annoying, hovering magician called Orko.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
1 June 2026
-
Fishing boats sat docked along the pier, bouncing on top of the water like a row of jolly babies.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
The itineraries aboard the line’s nearly 2,700-guest Nieuw Statendam ship will incorporate the festive stops into ocean voyages.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
-
The festive holiday lights, a winter staple of Mears Park, lined only one side of the park, leaving its three other sides bare.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
This tropical mini dress has the cheerful, vacation-ready energy of pricier resort brands without the sticker shock.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
5 June 2026
-
Tracks from bands like The Vaselines and Beat Happening add to the cheerful freneticism.—
Colin Wrenn,
Denver Post,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gleeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gleeful. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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