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
Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
The shiny, vinyl-like fabric gave the look a modern, sporty edge, tying it back to the game-day setting.
Mahomes and Kelce paired the festive jolly coats with their red and white Chiefs uniforms, blending seamlessly with the football team’s signature colors.
—Ty Gaskins, WWD, 26 Dec. 2024
Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
The unlikelihood of this turn of events—a niece being the first to find her uncle’s corpse—dissipates into the dynamic of the call: Shula’s bored, patient matter-of-factness, her father’s jolly, scattershot drunkenness.
—Namwali Serpell, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2025
The Economist, 21 Sep. 2019
So Watt sets out to convince them that the real killer is Peter Manuel by — wait for it! — taking him out on a bender and jollying him into a confession.
—Marilyn Stasio, New York Times, 19 May 2017
See All Example Sentences for jolly
Adjective
The musician also passed away on Christmas Day back in 2016, so the jolly time is also somewhat somber for longtime lovers of the artist.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
The shiny, vinyl-like fabric gave the look a modern, sporty edge, tying it back to the game-day setting.
Mahomes and Kelce paired the festive jolly coats with their red and white Chiefs uniforms, blending seamlessly with the football team’s signature colors.
—Ty Gaskins, WWD, 26 Dec. 2024
Adverb
Two traits aren’t especially needed in this instance: (i) Fluency
(ii) Worldviews
The mathematical proofs model doesn’t need to be able to quote Shakespeare or be a jolly conversationalist.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
The unlikelihood of this turn of events—a niece being the first to find her uncle’s corpse—dissipates into the dynamic of the call: Shula’s bored, patient matter-of-factness, her father’s jolly, scattershot drunkenness.
—Namwali Serpell, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2025
Verb
As to the political will needed to jolly the process along, and arrange payment for those parts of the programme that will not pay for themselves, this can push both ways.
—The Economist, 21 Sep. 2019
So Watt sets out to convince them that the real killer is Peter Manuel by — wait for it! — taking him out on a bender and jollying him into a confession.
—Marilyn Stasio, New York Times, 19 May 2017
See All Example Sentences for jolly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jolly
Adjective
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Audiences already know what to expect from Buzz Lightyear, Woody and their merry band of talking toys.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
23 June 2025
-
Will the market continue to trudge along its merry path?—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 June 2025
Adjective
-
Quiet and largely seasonably pleasant weather will settle across the Kansas City area on Tuesday, giving the metro a break from the heat and storms of the past few days, according to the National Weather Service.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
1 July 2025
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The average temperature is a pleasant 56°F (13°C), with warm summers and cool winters.—
Kathleen Peddicord,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Adverb
-
Embarking on the journey of franchising a business can be a very daunting step, but taking time to identify a franchising style that works for you and your business and to build a model that is authentic to you should make that journey a much easier one.—
Fiona Simpson,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
Don’t overdo it; a very small amount of concealer is more than enough.—
Laura Solla,
Vogue,
1 July 2025
Verb
-
Rocky joked, referencing the Hollywood family of 10 kids.—
Vivian Kwarm,
New York Daily News,
30 June 2025
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Taylor, never one to back down, fired back with a grin, joking about Jordan's retirement leisurewear.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 June 2025
Adjective
-
The Independence Day picnic itself was a festive affair, featuring remarks from President Trump and a B-2 bomber flyover as part of the celebrations.—
WWD Staff,
Footwear News,
5 July 2025
-
Fireworks will light up the sky at July Fourth celebrations across Michigan in what has become a festive staple as critical to the menu for some as the barbecue spread.—
Clara Hendrickson,
Freep.com,
4 July 2025
Adjective
-
La Terrasse du Petit Palais makes for delightful open air lakefront dining at the 1906 Fairmont Le Montreux Palace hotel, while its indoor Montreux Jazz Café features a fine dining menu, despite its casual name.—
John Oseid,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
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Upon receiving the ball, Joao Pedro turns, drives forward, and slides a delightful ball through to Simon Adingra, making a dangerous out-to-in run from the flank.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
30 June 2025
Adverb
-
Her long, dark hair was messily waved, hanging past her shoulders like a shawl, while her eyebrows were shaved extremely thin, leaving little room for any expression other than a sly smile.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
1 July 2025
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While both the House and Senate bills proposed language that was extremely harmful to the pass-through entity community, the final Senate bill passed made significant modifications that will encourage continued investments via pass through entities.—
Lynn Mucenski Keck,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Adverb
-
But from the first breath, Roxy sensed something was terribly wrong.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
24 June 2025
-
Then in April 2021, Granda’s plan to escape went terribly wrong.—
Charles Rabin,
Miami Herald,
24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Jolly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jolly. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
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