Jollify
v.energetic, joyfulplayful
What it means
To make a person, place, or occasion more cheerful.
Reach for it when adding a playful or old-fashioned verb for brightening a mood
Paper flowers will jollify the plain meeting room before the children arrive.
Choose between these
6- everyday
someone's mood is directly lifted
not when Cheer can be intransitive and may not mean changing the setting.
- everyday
perk up
a person or dull space gains quick energy
not when The phrasal verb feels casual and suggests a small temporary lift.
- warm
appearance or mood becomes lighter and more hopeful
not when Brighten need not involve festivity or shared amusement.
- formal
energy and interest are added to a quiet occasion
not when Enliven emphasizes activity rather than happiness.
- literary
decoration is literally hung in abundance
not when Festoon concerns ornament and cannot replace emotional cheering.
- literary
the change brings sincere inward happiness
not when Gladden is more solemn and does not convey jollify's playful bustle.
Said against
3- sadden
- dampen
- depress
It naturally appears in
3- jollify the room
Colorful bunting helped jollify the room for the reunion.
- jollify the gathering
A fiddle tune began to jollify the gathering.
- jollify proceedings
The host used a quick quiz to jollify proceedings after lunch.
Usage notes
Jollify is uncommon and deliberately playful; brighten or enliven is clearer in neutral prose.