merriment

noun

ˈmer-i-mənt How to pronounce merriment (audio)
Definition of merrimentnext
1
as in glee
a mood characterized by high spirits and amusement and often accompanied by laughter their unexpected merriment made him nervously inquire as to the reason for it

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in festivity
joyful or festive activity the wedding reception merriment lasted long into the night

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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 merriment Their laughs and chatter fill the countryside and one another’s hearts, the merriment binding them all together like caterpillars in one big cocoon. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2026 Then, to the merriment of all, Zefarino and the boys would come in with three bucks. — Jack O'Connor, Outdoor Life, 23 Apr. 2026 Lanie breaks into the merriment. — Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026 And with that same energy, my wife and I trodded further into the fair in hot pursuit of merriment and wonder. — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for merriment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for merriment
  1. glee
  2. festivity
  3. cheerfulness
  4. celebration
  5. cheer
  6. merrymaking
  7. mirth
  8. jollity
Noun
  • Detractors attacked the moment with glee, but that viewpoint ends up being shortsighted.
    — Ken Makin, Christian Science Monitor, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The prospect of a flagship GOP state turning blue doesn't just fill Democrats with glee and Republicans with alarm.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of glee
Noun
  • Those festivities have passed, of course, but Garcia is still excited to be in the neighborhood.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026
  • There was, however, some confusion about when the festivities were supposed to begin.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of festivity
Noun
  • Leaders, in particular, have the power to shift the mood of their teams, not by pretending everything is fine or manufacturing cheerfulness but through tone, body language, and small actions.
    — Harvard Business Review, Harvard Business Review, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The service Professionalism comes with genuine warmth, cheerfulness, and a sense of people absolutely loving their jobs.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of cheerfulness
Noun
  • The numbers have grown as well, ballooning to around 5,000 during the height of the semiquincentennial celebration.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The farm's latest maze pays tribute to country music legend Dolly Parton, combining a fall favorite with a celebration of the singer's music and philanthropy.
    — Alexa Liacko, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of celebration
Noun
  • The piercing screams and cheers of thrill seekers clashed with blaring music and barkers calling crowds to their games.
    — Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
  • This annual tradition provides live performances and holiday cheer while promoting donations to community food pantries.
    — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of cheer
Noun
  • Nor did great merrymaking surround its 2001 move to pioneer quantitative easing.
    — William Pesek, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
  • Once ground was completely covered with shards of tableware, folks journeyed from their seats into the center of the room for more dancing and merrymaking.
    — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 11 June 2026
Definition of merrymaking
Noun
  • Their pairing begs the question of whether misery and mirth alternate, blend, or coexist.
    — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 14 June 2026
  • There’s a fair bit of mirth in all this, and in Glanz’s brittle, snippy dialogue, which is abetted by the casting.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 4 June 2026
Definition of mirth
Noun
  • But the rollicking jollity that accompanies the final two acts, which includes the entrance of pirates and the abduction of Marina to a brothel, robs the ending of some of its pathos.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The finale is an ambiguous mix of jollity and agitation, with a piccolo shrieking above a militant march.
    — Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026
Definition of jollity

Browse Nearby Words

merrily
merriment
merriness
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Cite this Entry

“Merriment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/merriment. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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