Groovy
What it means
Stylish, enjoyable, or rhythmically appealing in a cheerfully retro way.
Reach for it when using playful informal praise when the dated flavor is part of the charm
The band played a groovy tune that drew everyone outside.
Words to choose between 6
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| warm | |
| professional | |
| literary |
-
playful
Fits when current casual approval fits the audience
Careful Cool is broader and lacks groovy's rhythmic, retro character.
-
playful
funky
Fits when strong offbeat style or syncopated rhythm is genuinely present
Careful Funky can mean strange or smell unpleasant outside the intended context.
-
everyday
Fits when a tune or phrase is easy to remember
Careful Catchy concerns memorability, not the feel or fashion of the whole work.
-
warm
swinging
Fits when lively social rhythm creates the appeal
Careful Swinging carries specific musical and historical associations.
-
professional
Fits when coherent visual taste deserves neutral praise
Careful Stylish says nothing about musical groove or cheerful informality.
-
literary
Fits when period-appropriate slang for fashionable awareness is wanted
Careful Hip is dated in a different way and can sound forced.
Opposites 3
- dreary
- uncool
- stiff
Common phrases 3
-
groovy tune
A groovy tune from the brass section opened the street fair.
-
groovy pattern
The groovy pattern echoes the building's 1970s tiles.
-
groovy vibe
Low lights and warm bass gave the room a groovy vibe.
Usage notes
Keep in mind
Groovy is deliberately dated slang. It works best when a retro, musical, or playful tone is intended.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Commander Keane, Australian accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated