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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in cheerfulness
a mood characterized by high spirits and amusement and often accompanied by laughter
the company's holiday parties often had an air of forced joviality
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of jovial
Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Diana, a jovial sixty-nine-year-old grandmother, moves Iain’s ice cream out of the freezer.
—Ruby Tandoh, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jovial
Adjective
The exceptional service is jovial and slick, but never obtrusive.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Diana, a jovial sixty-nine-year-old grandmother, moves Iain’s ice cream out of the freezer.
—Ruby Tandoh, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
There was never any danger of an exit as Alcaraz showed a focus that rose above any joviality about a second-hand haircut.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jovial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jovial
Adjective
-
Lily Mathé, one of the orchestra’s best violinists, vividly remembered being made to play jolly tunes in the SS officers’ mess at Auschwitz every evening while the guards ate their dinner.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Instead of its usual jolly cartoons, the channel began broadcasting footage of Russian military parades accompanied by music of the Russian nationalist singer Oleg Gazmanov.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
As Milchick, Tillman infused an unnerving cheerfulness into Lumon Industries’ macrodata refinement supervisor, a character who became increasingly central in Season 2.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Her vivacious attitude connects her with Aries (Stacey’s actual birthday is April 3) due to her fearlessness and cheerfulness in situations, no matter what is thrown at her.—
Lisa Stardust,
People.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Great American Family is making sure that everyone's television screens remain merry and bright this holiday season!—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Big Sur has enjoyed a reputation as a dream destination long before Big Little Lies and its merry band of accidentally murderous suburban mothers came around.—
Elly Leavitt,
Vogue,
20 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Hammond shared the picture of his visit to his Instagram, and the reunion immediately went viral, with fans expressing their glee at seeing Big Mama and Ahmad together again.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
-
The posts themselves ranged from political criticisms to expressions of glee over his death.—
Tyler Kingkade,
NBC news,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Trump tariffs stalled Halloween orders About 90% of festive products – merchandise associated with holidays or other seasonal occasions – are imported from China, according to the South China Morning Post.—
George Petras,
USA Today,
27 Sep. 2025
-
If the typical harvest color palette is not your style, there’s finally a solution to finding festive fall decor that’s not orange.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
These cheerful yellow dishes remind us of our grandparents’ tablescapes with colorful arrays of roasted vegetables and desserts filled with fresh berries.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Garden statues peeking from behind planters, a vintage wheelbarrow brimming with fall blooms, or even cheerful pinwheels catching the autumn breeze can add charm.—
Angie Hicks,
Boston Herald,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Berners-Lee raised his two children in nearby Lexington, the cradle of the American Revolution, and rose early for the annual Patriots’ Day festivities.—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Pawpaws, guavas, and persimmons can add a spicy tropical flair to drinks like the Gin Fizz, Collins, and Old Fashioned, while cranberry adds a splash of tartness and festivity to margaritas and Palomas.—
Essence,
Essence,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Jovial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jovial. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share