1
as in merry
indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor
an especially jolly crowd of well-wishers at their wedding reception
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pleasant
giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses
we always have a jolly time at their seaside cottage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in very
to a great degree
I jolly well agree that you did the right thing has become a jolly careful driver since his recent accident
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to joke
to make jokes
spent their nights around the campfire good-naturedly jollying and telling scary stories
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of jolly
Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 12 Mar. 2026
There’s a great Wings photo that fans cherish — a day in the Scottish highlands, the family farm, Paul and the band playing a jolly game of footie while his sheepdog muse Martha joins in, chasing the ball.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 24 Feb. 2026
Sean Gentille, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
While there are still January holidays on the horizon for Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims, today is the 12th day of Christmas — and then the holly-jolly season will be quickly wrapped and done.
—Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025
Director Nisha Ganatra jollies it along, with editor Eleanor Infante making as much rhythmic sense of the mix-ups and physical craziness as possible.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jolly
Adjective
Johansson revived the classic 1996 style that started it all, showing fresh iterations that were cropped, shrunken, and rendered in delicious shades like cotton-candy pink and jolly-rancher blue.
—Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 12 Mar. 2026
There’s a great Wings photo that fans cherish — a day in the Scottish highlands, the family farm, Paul and the band playing a jolly game of footie while his sheepdog muse Martha joins in, chasing the ball.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 24 Feb. 2026
Adverb
Their Christmas song pick was cheerful and jolly.
—Sean Gentille, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
While there are still January holidays on the horizon for Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims, today is the 12th day of Christmas — and then the holly-jolly season will be quickly wrapped and done.
—Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
This isn’t a report by the fun police: Twelfth Night is bursting with life and humor and should by no means be a moody slog, but Ali’s production is too intent on jollying us along.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025
Director Nisha Ganatra jollies it along, with editor Eleanor Infante making as much rhythmic sense of the mix-ups and physical craziness as possible.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jolly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jolly
Adjective
-
The picture’s eclectic cast, which included Anouk Aimée, Greta Scacchi and Maximilian Schell (with cameos by Faye Dunaway, Holly Hunter and Jeff Goldblum), swirled its merry way across the grand event in search of romance, fame and the ever-elusive movie deal.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
But in the cycling ecosystem, the Rockets are still minnows, a bunch of merry men with a camera — up against teams funded by international business conglomerates and nation states.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
The shorter duration of this program, which is the reason weight loss cannot be expected to pay such dividends as out west (where programs spill over a week), is not only extremely pleasant but also still gives you more than enough time to pick up new behaviors and carry them home.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 May 2026
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So, for now, traders can leave their trading desks for a pleasant, long holiday weekend.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
22 May 2026
Adverb
-
To be sure, these were very different presidents.—
William Muck,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
-
And Martha Stewart is just like me, for real—the most inexpensive product in her skin care routine is a $10 Mario Badescu body lotion, and on the very polar opposite end, the most expensive is a $2,695 laser device.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
An unidentified man off camera joked that Barr already got in trouble over there, too.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
20 May 2026
-
Iyengar joked about the marketplace now offering over 100 different shades of white paint as an example of meaningless differentiation.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
The touch of glitter adds the perfect accent that feels festive and minimal.—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
21 May 2026
-
Fun patterns, chic designs and festive bows make every bottle feel extra special.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
Continue along the roads of the peninsula, winding through vineyards and pine forests, before heading to Pampelonne Beach for a delightful leisurely seaside lunch on its fine sand.—
Nick Scott,
Robb Report,
17 May 2026
-
Tucumcari’s murals, neon signs and the Blue Swallow Motel were delightful.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
Adverb
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But even Black athletes whose athleticism gifted them an extremely exclusive express lane in life can tell you stories about growing up a minority in America, or tales their parents or grandparents have told.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2026
-
The theory of quantum electrodynamics (QED) suggests that when light at extremely high intensities interacts with the vacuum, it can be converted into matter.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
The overall objective is to educate guests on how to have a sustainable and enjoyable eating plan that continues post-stay—there are optional cooking classes to help establish the ground rules.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 May 2026
-
What some of us don’t always love, though, is the less enjoyable, mundane, and time-consuming task of food preparation.—
Rebecca Jones,
Southern Living,
23 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Jolly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jolly. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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