Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

happily

adverb

Synonyms and Antonyms of happily

1 in a cheerful or happy manner
  • happily accepted the invitation to dinner
Synonyms of happily

brightly, cheerfully, cheerily, gaily (also gayly), heartily, jocosely, jovially, merrily, mirthfully, smilingly
Words Related to happily

amusedly, exuberantly, giddily, gigglingly, joyfully, joyously

blithely, blithesomely, breezily, gladly, gladsomely, laughingly, lightheartedly, sunnily

amicably, friendlily, friendly, good-humoredly, good-naturedly, jocularly

hopefully, optimistically, sanguinely

blissfully, elatedly, euphorically, rapturously
Near Antonyms of happily

abjectly, dejectedly, despondently, disconsolately, dispiritedly, wretchedly

dolefully, dolorously, forlornly, mournfully, plaintively, sorrowfully

dourly, glumly, mirthlessly, sourly, sternly, sulkily, sullenly

blackly, dismally, drearily, gloomily, pessimistically
Antonyms of happily

bleakly, cheerlessly, darkly, heavily, miserably, morosely, unhappily
2 in a manner suitable for the occasion or purpose
  • one of those rare occasions on which business and pleasure happily mixed
Synonyms of happily

appositely, appropriately, congruously, correctly, duly, fittingly, meetly, properly, right, rightly, suitably
Words Related to happily

well

acceptably, adequately, passably, satisfactorily, tolerably

decently, decorously
Near Antonyms of happily

unacceptably, unsatisfactorily

inopportunely, unfortunately, unseasonably

inappositely, inaptly, irrelevantly

awkwardly, ungracefully
Antonyms of happily

improperly, inappropriately, incongruously, incorrectly, unseemly, unsuitably, wrongly

Learn More about happily

  1. See words that rhyme with happily Dictionary: Definition of happily Nglish: Translation of happily for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of happily for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up happily? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

cumulate

to gather or build up little by little

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. cache BuzzFeed reports on Trump-Cohen documents.

  2. intransigence, intransigent Trump cancels Davos trip.

  3. white supremacist Steve King discusses views.

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games