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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gleeful
Here, that flattening extends to the film’s overly polished setting, where Bargatze and Lagana’s gleeful script unfolds against a wildly generic version of suburban Tennessee.
—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
27 May 2026
There’s also a gleeful sequence where the six members of the virtuosic onstage band swan around in polyester housecoats and peroxide wigs, all representing H’s childhood piano teacher, Doris, a woman who toured with Horowitz and sounds like Foghorn Leghorn with a pack-a-day Virginia Slims habit.
—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
20 May 2026
From the gleeful anticipation of lifting the Premier League trophy on the final day last May to the absurdity of nervously looking over their shoulder at Brighton & Hove Albion and Bournemouth with the finish line in sight 12 months on.
—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for gleeful
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
27 May 2026
There’s also a gleeful sequence where the six members of the virtuosic onstage band swan around in polyester housecoats and peroxide wigs, all representing H’s childhood piano teacher, Doris, a woman who toured with Horowitz and sounds like Foghorn Leghorn with a pack-a-day Virginia Slims habit.
—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
20 May 2026
From the gleeful anticipation of lifting the Premier League trophy on the final day last May to the absurdity of nervously looking over their shoulder at Brighton & Hove Albion and Bournemouth with the finish line in sight 12 months on.
—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for gleeful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gleeful
Adjective
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Like most people, Sarnoski grew up with the light hearted stories of Robin Hood and his merry men.
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Our leads will be abandoning the mean streets of New York City for merry old London.
Adjective
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The problem was that plenty of officials from both the government and national association wanted in on the glory, piggy-backing on the team for a jolly trip to the World Cup.
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The Tar Heels went three-up, three-down in the sixth, but the next inning Gallaher and his teammates were having a jolly time on a clear and cool evening at Charles Schwab Field.
Adjective
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For an extra festive touch, make adorable tomato ice cubes to garnish each glass.
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The game was dull, but that’s not to say the atmosphere wasn’t festive.
Adjective
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The soft blue handles add a cheerful pop of color that's pretty enough to leave on display on your countertop.
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This streamlined area rug from Dash and Albert (an extension of the Annie Selke brand) brings a cheerful element to your floors, swapping out terrycloth fibers for hand micro-hooked wool for a comfortable texture in high traffic areas.
Cite this Entry
“Gleeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gleeful. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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