as in cheerfully
in a cheerful or happy manner
our coworker merrily announced that it was her birthday, so we felt obligated to treat her to lunch
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Recent Examples of merrily
Meanwhile, the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder continue to roll merrily along, seemingly intent on winning every championship in the near future.
—
Bob Harkins, New York Times, 7 May 2026
This Christmas white cake sings merrily with the tart, citrus flavors of a cherry, orange, and cranberry filling.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 1 May 2026
The Ultra Music Festival merrily rolls along in its 26th year Friday through Sunday at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
The sick humor of an inappropriately large insect thrashing on the bed gives way to the morbid humor of the new family of three proceeding merrily with their small lives.
—Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
At the time of the landmark rights deal, Levy’s sales team had spent the last two years merrily siphoning off marketing dollars traditionally earmarked for the broadcast giants.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Most of the town’s residents, and many visitors, merrily took part, while the more prudent ones enjoyed the show from the safety of their balconies.
—ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
White’s jaunty editing ensures the proceedings roll merrily along, and yet the richness of detail in every frame makes this feel longer than its lean 71-minute running time, but not at all in a negative way.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 20 Feb. 2026
For most of the show, Bad Bunny had been mugging merrily to the camera, flaring his eyes and making hammy gestures to illustrate his words.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
Bob Harkins, New York Times, 7 May 2026
This Christmas white cake sings merrily with the tart, citrus flavors of a cherry, orange, and cranberry filling.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 1 May 2026
The Ultra Music Festival merrily rolls along in its 26th year Friday through Sunday at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
The sick humor of an inappropriately large insect thrashing on the bed gives way to the morbid humor of the new family of three proceeding merrily with their small lives.
—Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
At the time of the landmark rights deal, Levy’s sales team had spent the last two years merrily siphoning off marketing dollars traditionally earmarked for the broadcast giants.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Most of the town’s residents, and many visitors, merrily took part, while the more prudent ones enjoyed the show from the safety of their balconies.
—ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
White’s jaunty editing ensures the proceedings roll merrily along, and yet the richness of detail in every frame makes this feel longer than its lean 71-minute running time, but not at all in a negative way.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 20 Feb. 2026
For most of the show, Bad Bunny had been mugging merrily to the camera, flaring his eyes and making hammy gestures to illustrate his words.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for merrily
Adverb
-
By now the acquaintances had seen them and walked in, waving cheerfully.—
Ayşegül Savaş,
New Yorker,
24 May 2026
-
Indeed, Calvin is cheerfully lobotomizing a snowman.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Indeed, back in the 1990s and 2000s, municipalities across the country were happily demolishing Brutalist eyesores made to house the poor.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2026
-
And despite the circumstances, the host kept things bright, roping in a cavalcade of celebrities to send things out happily.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
22 May 2026
Adverb
-
The sun shined brightly on Connor Darcey Memorial Field.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
18 May 2026
-
Artificial psychedelic imagery, from brightly colored paint mixed together to blooming black roses, also recur throughout.—
Vikram Murthi,
IndieWire,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Merrily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/merrily. Accessed 26 May. 2026.
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