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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hilarity
Catherine O’Hara portrayed ridiculous eccentrics with equal parts hilarity and humanity.
—
The Week Us, TheWeek, 10 Feb. 2026
At the film’s center are the lovably gruff duo Flic and Minna, played with precision and stiff-upper-lipped hilarity by newcomers Marni Duggan and Galaxie Clear respectively.
—Tomris Laffly, Variety, 24 Jan. 2026
This is the case with Saturday Night Live, a show that has reached the highest highs and lowest lows of hilarity for half a century.
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Jan. 2026
But sometimes this hammy hilarity can feel like a substitute for thoughtful plotting and considerate character development.
—Niela Orr, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hilarity
The Week Us, TheWeek, 10 Feb. 2026
At the film’s center are the lovably gruff duo Flic and Minna, played with precision and stiff-upper-lipped hilarity by newcomers Marni Duggan and Galaxie Clear respectively.
—Tomris Laffly, Variety, 24 Jan. 2026
This is the case with Saturday Night Live, a show that has reached the highest highs and lowest lows of hilarity for half a century.
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Jan. 2026
But sometimes this hammy hilarity can feel like a substitute for thoughtful plotting and considerate character development.
—Niela Orr, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hilarity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hilarity
Noun
-
Facts about elephant seals—a bull’s responsibility to impregnate his harem of females, birthing and nursing—though presented scientifically, put the children in a state of wild glee that a thousand-year-old redwood tree or a century-old lighthouse could not induce.—
Yiyun Li,
New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2026
-
His six year old cousin opened the door and broke out in pure glee, rushing back to call for his mother.—
Yousra Elbagir,
Time,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
His cheerfulness and laughter often brought strength and refreshment to me in difficult times.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Raines replied, her usual cheerfulness stepping up a notch.—
Rebecca Boone,
Fortune,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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More than 8,000 athletes competed across the four events in 2025, and Little Rock Marathon Race Director Geneva Lamm says there are more than 12,000 registered for this year's festivities.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
1 Mar. 2026
-
The festivities will include food, drinks, a DJ and giveaways.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Godfrey began Cactus Bowls, which sells açai bowls, this past August, taking the trailer to high school games and cheer competitions.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The cheers were muted as the State of the Union pageantry kicked off.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hilarity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hilarity. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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