jolly 1 of 3

1
as in merry
indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor an especially jolly crowd of well-wishers at their wedding reception

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in pleasant
giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses we always have a jolly time at their seaside cottage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

jolly

2 of 3

adverb

jolly

3 of 3

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective jolly differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of jolly are blithe, jocund, jovial, and merry. While all these words mean "showing high spirits or lightheartedness," jolly suggests high spirits expressed in laughing, bantering, and jesting.

our jolly host enlivened the party

Where would blithe be a reasonable alternative to jolly?

In some situations, the words blithe and jolly are roughly equivalent. However, blithe suggests carefree, innocent, or even heedless gaiety.

arrived late in his usual blithe way

When is it sensible to use jocund instead of jolly?

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

singing, dancing, and jocund feasting

When could jovial be used to replace jolly?

The synonyms jovial and jolly are sometimes interchangeable, but jovial suggests the stimulation of conviviality and good fellowship.

dinner put them in a jovial mood

When is merry a more appropriate choice than jolly?

The words merry and jolly are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, merry suggests cheerful, joyous, uninhibited enjoyment of frolic or festivity.

a merry group of revelers

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 jolly
Adjective
As the jolliest day of the year inches closer, the sibling group breaks into the top 10 on a handful of tallies, as both their singles and at least one album are on the rise. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024 Bundle up and get ready to enjoy a jolly season this December, this month is packed with holiday celebrations. Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 6 Dec. 2024
Adverb
That Hilty and Simard make it so jolly is a big relief and a big surprise. Rachel Sherman, New York Times, 27 Dec. 2024 Of course, for the less sentimental among us, Hulu also has some less holly jolly options to spice things up, including classics like Die Hard (1988) and newer films like Spencer (2021). Andrew Walsh, EW.com, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
As to the political will needed to jolly the process along, and arrange payment for those parts of the programme that will not pay for themselves, this can push both ways. The Economist, 21 Sep. 2019 So Watt sets out to convince them that the real killer is Peter Manuel by — wait for it! — taking him out on a bender and jollying him into a confession. Marilyn Stasio, New York Times, 19 May 2017 See All Example Sentences for jolly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jolly
Adjective
  • 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
Adjective
  • This driver encompasses the literal reasons for scented products—think masking unpleasant odors, creating a pleasant scent for your home, and making up for a lack of fresh air.
    Isabella Milano, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2025
  • My experience with the Phone 3a Pro has been mostly pleasant.
    Prakhar Khanna, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
Adverb
  • They have long since been known to be very controlling with video footage from tournament play.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
  • And these women are still very universal women that are struggling every day, but trying to survive systemic oppression and trying to find the most authentic voices.
    DeMicia Inman, VIBE.com, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Offerman also joked about President Trump's recent array of sweeping policy shifts while advising against long acceptance speeches.
    EW.com, EW.com, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Bugas and his cousin thought Cooper was joking, but the man returned half an hour later with a heavy rifle and two boxes of cartridges.
    Michael Luo, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Perfect for wrapping around banisters, windows or outdoor trees, these lights bring a warm, festive touch to any haunted house setup.
    Maria Correa, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Children traditionally receive new clothes, money, or gifts from family and friends, adding to the festive spirit.
    Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Indeed, the anime is a throwback to the days where Goku used to channel Jackie Chan, using plates and chairs to fight opponents larger than himself with delightful yet stunning action animation.
    Rafael Motamayor, IndieWire, 2 Mar. 2025
  • And Then, There’s Power Shot As delightful as the drive experience is, there is one more feature the driver will find delightful: Power Shot.
    Scotty Reiss, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
Adverb
  • And in a heartwarming turn of events, Wayans is extremely supportive of his child.
    Abby Monteil, Them, 3 Mar. 2025
  • The mesh fabric didn't cover as much as her extremely long, brown hair—a departure from the famous painting—which was stuffed into the dress and very deliberately situated for a wee bit of modesty.
    Marci Robin, Allure, 3 Mar. 2025
Adverb
  • Many of these names will not be terribly familiar to MLP fans, or even some die-hard pro pickleball fans.
    Todd Boss, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Our Transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, has said that none of these jobs eliminated at FAA were terribly critical to safety.
    Victoria Chamberlin, Vox, 27 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Jolly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jolly. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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