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

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 merriment 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 There was food, drink and merriment of all stripes. — Brian Barth, Mercury News, 27 Feb. 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
  • Other, less cartoonish responses have lingered on Cambridge’s comparable glee in brandishing Arday in the first place.
    — Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2026
  • His earlier display of emotion made the song’s meaning hit even harder — and as the crowd erupted into jumps and shouts of glee, Smith stood there, a grin growing on his lipsticked mouth.
    — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of glee
Noun
  • At the Sugar Bowl in 2019, Bevo broke away from his handlers and escaped, charging at Uga during the pregame festivities.
    — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The festivities have included shows in New York City, and upcoming gigs in Los Angeles, Paris, and London, a series of pop-up events and activations, and even a run of commemorative library cards with the Brooklyn Public Library system.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of festivity
Noun
  • 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
  • Kikuko sometimes mistook Shigejiro’s cheerfulness for egoism owing to the distortions produced by her illness.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of cheerfulness
Noun
  • Jake was at Los Angeles’ Union Station for a celebration of life event for a friend when his sister called.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The shows are billed as a celebration of the 30th anniversary of debut LP Reasonable Doubt, which kicked off the 56-year-old’s illustrious career in 1996.
    — Sophie Williams, Billboard, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of celebration
Noun
  • Persistent cheers emanated from outside the locker room, where kids flanked the ramp to see the Ravens take the practice field.
    — Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • But not before the former cheerleader caught a pass from Tebow and immediately did a split, drawing cheers from her favorite quarterback.
    — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Aug. 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
  • 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
  • Winston Peacock’s Ghost of Christmas Present is especially winning with decidedly John Belushi-esque jollity.
    — Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 10 Dec. 2025
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 31 Aug. 2026.

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