gaiety

noun

ˈgā-ə-tē How to pronounce gaiety (audio)
variants also gayety
Definition of gaietynext
1
as in attire
dressy clothing attendees of the masquerade ball arrived dressed in all their gaiety

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2
as in festivity
joyful or festive activity loved the gaiety of the annual harvest festival the gaiety of the wedding reception

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cheerfulness
a mood characterized by high spirits and amusement and often accompanied by laughter the gaiety of children enjoying an outing at an amusement park

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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 gaiety The energy and gaiety of Boston’s annual LGBTQ+ Pride parade returned to Back Bay and South End streets Saturday, as marchers clad in rainbow tutus, mesh crop tops, and myriad styles and colors of body glitter sashayed through the city for the first time since 2019. — Jeremy C. Fox, BostonGlobe.com, 10 June 2023 Where the drops are sparse in detail, the frame delivers in an undeniable elegance and gaiety. — Astrid Kayembe, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2023 My peace of mind and my gaiety will be gone for ever. — Audrey Wollen, The New Yorker, 3 Jan. 2023 But even that is done with gaiety. — John Sharp | Jsharp@al.com, al, 13 Feb. 2023 See All Example Sentences for gaiety
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaiety
  1. attire
  2. festivity
  3. finery
  4. glee
  5. costume
  6. frippery
  7. apparel
  8. bravery
Noun
  • In early March, the Paris in Love star shared photos of her family of four dressed in black tie attire for the 2025 Oscars.
    — Hannah Sacks, People.com, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Guests ages 21 or older are invited to wear prom attire and can meet scientists, get involved at the San Diego Archaeological Center, dig up fossils at the Paleo demo lab, dance along to live music and meet various local organizations.
    — San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of attire
Noun
  • The day's festivities included a pageant commemorating the land runs of 1889 and 1893.
    — Elizabeth Blair, NPR, 2 Apr. 2025
  • The playful enthusiasm that his soldiers had hitherto displayed in martial training and sporty festivities, and the esprit de corps forged in their common cause, gave way to their bloodied corpses; the film’s depictions of their gory stillness, in full color, come as a shock.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of festivity
Noun
  • To majorly commit, request everyone show up in tea-time finery—hats and all.
    — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 15 Jan. 2025
  • But for all its imperial finery and grandeur, the waltz was the people’s dance.
    — Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024
Definition of finery
Noun
  • The specifics of Musk’s climb down remain to be seen, but the fact that chatter about it is being received with such glee among Hill Republicans may be the validation that moves Trump to a hard yes on Musk’s shift. Make sense of what matters in Washington.
    — Philip Elliott, Time, 2 Apr. 2025
  • To investors’ glee, Trump even managed to mention doling out carve-outs.
    — Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN, 25 Mar. 2025
Definition of glee
Noun
  • With nowhere to hide and no way to escape her Dobby costume, the teacher had no choice but to soldier through the day.
    — Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 30 Mar. 2025
  • While some aspects, like costumes, had to remain of the era, music gave them room to play.
    — Alamin Yohannes, EW.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of costume
Noun
  • At first, Valentín shows no interest in Molina’s frippery, but once he gets started on his detailed narration of the loopy movie plot, the political prisoner begins eagerly requesting further installments.
    — David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
  • But who has time for all of that frippery, anyway, when war’s a-comin’?
    — Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 20 Dec. 2024
Definition of frippery
Noun
  • As one of Asia’s leading fashion events, Fashion InStyle 2025 will bring together nearly 400 international exhibitors from the apparel and fashion sectors, featuring textiles, fashion technology, sustainable solutions, seasonal apparel, accessories and industry partners.
    — SJ Studio, Sourcing Journal, 1 Apr. 2025
  • With men’s apparel ranging from polos to argyle quarter-zips and blended cotton-cashmere knit sweaters, the line’s boldest pieces are the bottoms: a pleated pant with sewn-on 3-Stripe detail and the Originals Archive Plaid Pant featuring a center fold press inspired by icons of the past.
    — Michael LoRé, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of apparel
Noun
  • The ceremony honored eight recipients from around the world for acts of bravery, activism, perseverance and more.
    — Meredith Kile, People.com, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Reprising the role of the cocky Naval aviator required the bravery of a real fighter pilot.
    — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of bravery

Browse Nearby Words

gagsters
gaiety
gaily
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Cite this Entry

“Gaiety.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gaiety. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.

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