Synonyms of happily

happily

adverb

ˈha-pə-lē 

1

as in cheerfully

in a cheerful or happy manner

happily accepted the invitation to dinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cheerfully
• brightly
• joyfully
• merrily
• cheerily
• smilingly
• jovially
• heartily
• jocosely
• gaily
• joyously
• mirthfully
• blithely
• giddily
• gladly
• exuberantly
• laughingly
• blissfully
• friendly
• breezily
• amusedly
• amicably
• lightheartedly
• hopefully
• optimistically
• jocularly
• rapturously
• sunnily
• good-naturedly
• gigglingly
• good-humoredly
• sanguinely
• elatedly
• blithesomely
• friendlily
• euphorically
• gladsomely

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unhappily
• heavily
• miserably
• darkly
• morosely
• dejectedly
• bleakly
• despondently
• disconsolately
• abjectly
• mournfully
• sorrowfully
• wretchedly
• forlornly
• plaintively
• dolefully
• cheerlessly
• sternly
• glumly
• sullenly
• dispiritedly
• sulkily
• sourly
• dourly
• gloomily
• dismally
• pessimistically
• drearily
• dolorously
• mirthlessly
• blackly

2

as in properly

in a manner suitable for the occasion or purpose

one of those rare occasions on which business and pleasure happily mixed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• properly
• correctly
• appropriately
• duly
• rightly
• suitably
• fittingly
• right
• adequately
• well
• acceptably
• congruously
• appositely
• meetly
• satisfactorily
• decently
• tolerably
• passably
• decorously

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• wrongly
• incorrectly
• improperly
• inappropriately
• incongruously
• unfortunately
• unsatisfactorily
• unsuitably
• unacceptably
• unseemly
• irrelevantly
• unseasonably
• awkwardly
• inopportunely
• inaptly
• ungracefully
• inappositely

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of happily

The precipitous decline can be attributed to multiple factors—including, happily, the expansion of universal pre-K in some states. — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 20 Aug. 2026

Fifteen years after owners switched off the rides for the last time, an eerie and rusted amusement park happily in decay in Seoul's outskirts has become one of the city's coolest attractions. — New Atlas, 18 Aug. 2026

The post featured an image of their daughter happily sitting on her mother’s shoulders. — Josh Feldman, NBC news, 18 Aug. 2026

One of those freshmen, LaCien, happily posed with his classmates. — Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026