Merry
What it means
Cheerful, sociable, and lively with enjoyment.
Reach for it when describing lighthearted people, activity, or celebration in an informal or traditional tone
A merry group of neighbors decorated the hall while singing.
Words to choose between 9
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| warm |
|
| formal | |
| literary |
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playful
Fits when excitement and visible delight are intense
Careful Gleeful can suggest mischievous pleasure at another's expense.
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playful
Suits hearty, sociable good humor
Careful Jolly can sound old-fashioned, seasonal, or focused on body stereotypes.
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everyday
Fits when celebration, decoration, or occasion creates the mood
Careful Festive can describe surroundings even when no person feels merry.
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everyday
in high spirits
Fits when energetic good mood needs conversational wording
Careful The phrase describes people, not decorations, songs, or occasions.
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warm
Fits when positive mood is clear but not especially lively
Careful Cheerful includes quiet steadiness, while merry is livelier and more social.
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warm
Fits when happiness is deeper or more heartfelt
Careful Joyful can suit solemn occasions, while merry suggests lighter fun.
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warm
Fits when freedom from worry or seriousness is central
Careful Lighthearted can seem insensitive where the subject deserves gravity.
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formal
Fits when friendly company, food, and conversation create sociable pleasure
Careful Convivial is formal and concerns social atmosphere more than individual cheer.
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literary
Fits when laughter and amusement define the mood
Careful Mirthful is uncommon and may sound deliberately antique.
Opposites 3
- gloomy
- mournful
- sullen
Common phrases 3
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merry band
A merry band of walkers arrived with muddy boots and spare cake.
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merry mood
The unexpected accordion put the waiting crowd in a merry mood.
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make merry
After the final harvest, the village gathered to make merry.
Word family 1
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Tharthan, New England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated