Hilarity
What it means
A burst or atmosphere of joyful, often noisy laughter.
Reach for it when naming shared amusement rather than merely saying something was funny
The costume swap caused a moment of warm hilarity backstage.
Words to choose between 6
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| warm | |
| professional | |
| literary |
|
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playful
uproar
Fits when loud collective reaction is the vivid feature
Careful An uproar can be angry or chaotic, so context must establish humor.
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everyday
Fits when the audible human response is all that needs naming
Careful Laughter can be nervous, cruel, or polite rather than hilarious.
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warm
Fits when delighted excitement matters as much as the laughter
Careful Glee can arise from winning or mischief without comedy.
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warm
Fits when sociable good cheer fills the occasion
Careful Merriment includes celebration and play without necessarily involving laughter.
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professional
Fits when a restrained state of being entertained is meant
Careful Amusement is far quieter than the lively laughter of hilarity.
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literary
Fits when good-natured laughter suits an elevated or old-fashioned tone
Careful Mirth feels archaic in contemporary workplace or product copy.
Opposites 3
- gloom
- solemnity
- misery
Common phrases 3
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general hilarity
The goat's unexpected entrance caused general hilarity.
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moment of hilarity
A moment of hilarity broke the tension before the final vote.
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much hilarity
The crooked practice cake produced much hilarity and several useful lessons.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated