Synonyms of jovial

jovial

adjective

ˈjō-vē-əl 

as in jolly

indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor

the trip to the amusement park put everyone in a jovial mood

Synonyms & Similar Words

• jolly
• merry
• festive
• cheerful
• witty
• jocular
• laughing
• lively
• mirthful
• funny
• gleeful
• jocose
• sunny
• joyful
• humorous
• playful
• amused
• happy
• smiling
• blithe
• jocund
• amusing
• bright
• blithesome
• spirited
• gay
• joking
• delighted
• lighthearted
• upbeat
• cheery
• carefree
• joyous
• buoyant
• exuberant
• vivacious
• animated
• ecstatic
• jubilant
• sprightly
• perky
• chipper
• optimistic
• blissful
• easygoing
• peppy
• jaunty
• exultant
• euphoric
• giggling
• hilarious
• flippant
• frisky
• rapturous
• radiant
• chuckling
• facetious
• comical
• enraptured
• frolicsome
• bouncing
• sportive
• hopeful
• unconcerned
• beaming
• insouciant
• high
• cavalier
• sanguine
• blessed
• rosy
• happy-go-lucky
• comic
• riotous
• lightsome
• jesting
• uproarious
• elated
• zippy
• farcical
• exhilarated
• antic
• overjoyed
• gladsome
• joshing
• thrilled
• sprightful
• tickled
• entranced
• ravished
• devil-may-care
• sidesplitting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sad
• unhappy
• melancholy
• sorrowful
• blue
• glum
• depressed
• aggrieved
• downcast
• anguished
• dejected
• forlorn
• dispirited
• disconsolate
• despondent
• abject
• crestfallen
• crying
• heartbroken
• saddened
• disheartened
• moody
• weeping
• disgruntled
• wailing
• brokenhearted
• mournful
• lugubrious
• discontented
• doleful
• somber
• sobbing
• sullen
• gloomy
• plaintive
• joyless
• dark
• morose
• low-spirited
• black
• heartsick
• gray
• sorry
• heavyhearted
• downhearted
• dolorous
• cheerless
• saturnine
• bleak
• lachrymose
• woeful
• dreary
• dismal
• depressing
• desolate
• miserable
• moaning
• groaning
• comfortless
• woebegone
• sluggish
• dull
• wretched
• lethargic
• listless
• torpid

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective jovial differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of jovial are blithe, jocund, jolly, and merry. While all these words mean "showing high spirits or lightheartedness," jovial suggests the stimulation of conviviality and good fellowship.

dinner put them in a jovial mood

In what contexts can blithe take the place of jovial?

Although the words blithe and jovial have much in common, blithe suggests carefree, innocent, or even heedless gaiety.

arrived late in his usual blithe way

When can jocund be used instead of jovial?

The synonyms jocund and jovial are sometimes interchangeable, but jocund stresses elation and exhilaration of spirits.

singing, dancing, and jocund feasting

When might jolly be a better fit than jovial?

The words jolly and jovial can be used in similar contexts, but jolly suggests high spirits expressed in laughing, bantering, and jesting.

our jolly host enlivened the party

When could merry be used to replace jovial?

In some situations, the words merry and jovial are roughly equivalent. However, merry suggests cheerful, joyous, uninhibited enjoyment of frolic or festivity.

a merry group of revelers

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of jovial

Both student sections swelled to more than 125 and provided jovial chants throughout the contest. —Colby Gordon, Austin American Statesman, 31 Jan. 2026

But the series has so far introduced Storm End’s Ser Lyonel Baratheon (Daniel Ings), the jovial lord also known as the Laughing Storm, who befriends Dunk in the first episode. —Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026

While photography was strictly off limits in certain creative hubs to avoid spoiling unannounced figurines currently in development, the atmosphere on-site remained incredibly jovial. —Robert Lang, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2026

Despite the more jovial tone, the source said that the French leader's position was consistent in public and private. —Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 20 Jan. 2026

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