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merry

adjective

ˈmer-ē How to pronounce merry (audio)
Definition of merrynext
as in jolly
indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor the traditional depiction of Santa Claus as a rotund man with merry, twinkling blue eyes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective merry differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of merry are blithe, jocund, jolly, and jovial. While all these words mean "showing high spirits or lightheartedness," merry suggests cheerful, joyous, uninhibited enjoyment of frolic or festivity.

a merry group of revelers

When can blithe be used instead of merry?

The synonyms blithe and merry are sometimes interchangeable, but blithe suggests carefree, innocent, or even heedless gaiety.

arrived late in his usual blithe way

When could jocund be used to replace merry?

Although the words jocund and merry have much in common, jocund stresses elation and exhilaration of spirits.

singing, dancing, and jocund feasting

In what contexts can jolly take the place of merry?

The words jolly and merry are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, jolly suggests high spirits expressed in laughing, bantering, and jesting.

our jolly host enlivened the party

When is it sensible to use jovial instead of merry?

While in some cases nearly identical to merry, jovial suggests the stimulation of conviviality and good fellowship.

dinner put them in a jovial mood

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 merry Get inspired by these merry, bright, and unabashedly playful interiors from past editions of AD All products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by our editors. —Madeleine Luckel, Architectural Digest, 24 Feb. 2025 Tristan’s on pigeon patrol, and a merry Christmas to all. —Alice Burton, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2025 Tori Spelling's daughter didn't have the merriest of Christmases last year. —Hannah Sacks, People.com, 24 Dec. 2024 Now Quentin and his merry band of murderous gays are dead by her hand, presumably leaving Greg to enjoy an undivided inheritance of $500 million. —Judy Berman, TIME, 17 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for merry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for merry
  1. jolly
  2. festive
  3. cheerful
Adjective
  • 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
  • The same jolly collection also returns to the Top Streaming Albums chart for another year.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
Definition of jolly
Adjective
  • Fans can enjoy a festive atmosphere and even create their ideal basketball court using cutting-edge AI technology.
    — Jenn Nelson, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Gastronomy and mixology come together with live music in the afternoons to create a festive, atmospheric cocktail lounge.
    — Laura Ness, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of festive
Adjective
  • Suddenly, everyone’s wardrobe is far more cheerful, nature is blooming in every corner, and our favorite brands begin unveiling fresh colorways inspired by the season’s change.
    — Maya Gandara, StyleCaster, 2 Apr. 2025
  • The Many Faces of Organizational Silence Toxic positivity isn't just about being excessively cheerful.
    — Tracy Lawrence, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of cheerful

Browse Nearby Words

merriness
merry
merry-andrew
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Merry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/merry. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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