as in glee
a mood characterized by high spirits and amusement and often accompanied by laughter
hilarity is the last thing you expect to find at a funeral, but we were there to celebrate his life rather than to dwell on his death
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hilarity
Dry, impersonal, a little robotic to the point of hilarity.
—
Kory Stamper, Longreads, 19 Mar. 2026
From his New Orleans roots to establishing himself in New York, Normand has built a reputation as a relentless joke writer whose material is spiked with hilarity through somewhat twisted interpretations.
—Ali Lerman, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
The characters in his orbit are quite strong in their own right, but here, as in The Office, Carell’s unflagging comedy prowess provides the energy that powers the narrative into full-on hilarity.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2026
The reaction from the younger members of the family was immediate, complete hilarity.
—Marta Martínez Tato, Vanity Fair, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hilarity
Kory Stamper, Longreads, 19 Mar. 2026
From his New Orleans roots to establishing himself in New York, Normand has built a reputation as a relentless joke writer whose material is spiked with hilarity through somewhat twisted interpretations.
—Ali Lerman, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
The characters in his orbit are quite strong in their own right, but here, as in The Office, Carell’s unflagging comedy prowess provides the energy that powers the narrative into full-on hilarity.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2026
The reaction from the younger members of the family was immediate, complete hilarity.
—Marta Martínez Tato, Vanity Fair, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hilarity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hilarity
Noun
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New York with aplomb, expressing glee about the network being able to keep the project a secret.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
17 Apr. 2026
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Laptop twee tries to pretend those simpler times are accessible, which makes for exaggerated, juvenile glee—a dishonest document of 2026, but a wildly appealing one.—
Samuel Hyland,
Pitchfork,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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As a teen-ager listening to folk music in London pubs, I’d been attracted to the instrument’s nimble, tinkling cheerfulness, its being on the margins, not too demanding, perhaps.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
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Lastly, yellow tulips symbolize cheerfulness, happiness, and optimism.—
Michelle Mastro,
Architectural Digest,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Between parking restrictions and road closures, Boston is encouraging Marathon Monday visitors to walk, bike, take the T — anything but drive — to watch the runners or attend the day’s festivities.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
20 Apr. 2026
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The festivities kick off Friday morning when the elite athletes meet with the media just as the Marathon Expo opens at the Hynes Convention Center for the weekend.—
Anna Meiler,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Barring anything drastic, Fernando Mendoza will put on a silver and black cap April 23 to overwhelming cheers from his friends and family inside his Miami home.—
Sam Warren,
New York Times,
15 Apr. 2026
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Ramona Pop Warner is also seeking volunteer coaches for both football and cheer programs.—
Stephanie Ogilvie,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hilarity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hilarity. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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