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
Annie can be seen playing, seeking affection and happily engaging with Hannah and the other dogs in the home.
—
Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
The 15-year-old has a strong love for reading and often chooses chapter books, happily spending time getting lost in a good story.
—The Star, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2026
Now estranged from his loud-mouthed clan, happily partnered and with a similarly neurotic daughter, Malcolm is forced to enter the fore amid Hal (Bryan Cranston) and Lois’ (Jane Kaczmarek) 40th wedding anniversary celebration.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 28 Mar. 2026
In John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary, the buds happily reproduce the breadth of instruments included.
—Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for happily
Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
The 15-year-old has a strong love for reading and often chooses chapter books, happily spending time getting lost in a good story.
—The Star, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2026
Now estranged from his loud-mouthed clan, happily partnered and with a similarly neurotic daughter, Malcolm is forced to enter the fore amid Hal (Bryan Cranston) and Lois’ (Jane Kaczmarek) 40th wedding anniversary celebration.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 28 Mar. 2026
In John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary, the buds happily reproduce the breadth of instruments included.
—Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for happily
Recent Examples of Synonyms for happily
Adverb
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In Atlanta, my hometown airport, cheerfully marketed as the world’s busiest, had descended into organized chaos.—
Bill Barrow,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
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In Atlanta, my hometown airport, cheerfully marketed as the world’s busiest, had descended into organized chaos.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
The kitchen lights weren’t working properly.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
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On the shipwreck the hatches are fastened properly.—
Tribune News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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The Goldman Sachs data, which shows real productivity acceleration in industries with higher adoption rates, suggests that the gap may be closing—but only for firms that have actually deployed the tools and done so correctly.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
1 Apr. 2026
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Foster said a few people correctly guessed the breed combination.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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In Los Angeles, the night of Friday, December 8, 1961, was appropriately dark and stormy.—
Jennifer Cannon,
Vanity Fair,
7 Apr. 2026
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Periodic areas of wind blowing from the west to the east have helped transport this water, in what are appropriately known as westerly wind bursts.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Happily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/happily. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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