1
as in cheerfully
in a cheerful or happy manner
happily accepted the invitation to dinner
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of happily
Mu Hee is happily shopping when her Aunt shows up.
—
Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
But happily, this adaptation of Helen Macdonald’s bestselling 2014 memoir does ample justice to its source material.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 29 Jan. 2026
And yet again, how is our world filled with high-achieving straight-A students who have happily done so?
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 29 Jan. 2026
Vrabel looked around happily from that stage, a first-year coach headed to the Super Bowl just 12 months into this job.
—Chad Graff, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for happily
Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
But happily, this adaptation of Helen Macdonald’s bestselling 2014 memoir does ample justice to its source material.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 29 Jan. 2026
And yet again, how is our world filled with high-achieving straight-A students who have happily done so?
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 29 Jan. 2026
Vrabel looked around happily from that stage, a first-year coach headed to the Super Bowl just 12 months into this job.
—Chad Graff, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for happily
Recent Examples of Synonyms for happily
Adverb
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With this introduction of a hapless protagonist not entirely managing to live her best life, Brett Haley‘s film cheerfully speaks both the literary and cinematic language of romantic comedy — and won’t seek to subvert or elevate it in the two hours that follow.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
8 Jan. 2026
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Unable to roll the map out, its creators cheerfully realize that the country itself can serve as its own map.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
4 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
This timing is meant to ensure the pill absorbs properly, McCoy explained.—
Jenna Anderson,
Health,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Keep in mind that firm menstrual cups are more likely to open properly after being inserted.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Troy was leery, noting disgustedly, and correctly, that law enforcement had decided this time to send a Black detective, Penelton, hoping that this would put him at ease enough to finally talk.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
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However, this also means that if there is a problem with the pilot light, the water heater cannot function correctly.—
Timothy Dale,
The Spruce,
28 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
This week’s forecast, appropriately enough, calls for sunshine and temperatures in the mid-70s for the 72-hole event.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
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Boyd was wearing a light-brown corduroy jacket with elbow patches that struck me as appropriately literary, and Wheeler was in blue shirtsleeves that matched his eyes.—
Nell Freudenberger,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Happily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/happily. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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