jolly 1 of 3

adjective

ˈjä-lē How to pronounce jolly (audio)
Definition of jollynext
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

as in very
to a great degree I jolly well agree that you did the right thing has become a jolly careful driver since his recent accident

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

jolly

3 of 3

verb

as in to joke
to make jokes spent their nights around the campfire good-naturedly jollying and telling scary stories

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Demi Moore is having a jolly good time with her family this holiday season! — Angel Saunders, People.com, 27 Dec. 2024 That Hilty and Simard make it so jolly is a big relief and a big surprise. — Rachel Sherman, New York Times, 27 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
  1. merry
  2. pleasant
  3. very
  4. joke
  5. festive
  6. delightful
  7. extremely
  8. terribly
Adjective
  • Despite the merry mix-up, Sustr successfully put the ball in the net with 21:17 left for the Knights, who held on for a 2-1 victory in a Windy City Ram Classic second-round game in New Lenox.
    — Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
  • The merry month of May used to be an outlier on the Red Rocks Amphitheatre calendar, and any artist that dared book past September tempted the wrath of show-stopping cold and snow.
    — John Wenzel, The Denver Post, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of merry
Adjective
  • The keyboard itself is pleasant enough to type on, with moderate feedback while avoiding the squishy feel some budget systems have.
    — PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
  • From the point of view of Paul, Weiss, having to strike this arrangement wasn’t pleasant, but the price was tolerable.
    — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of pleasant
Adverb
  • Williams seems to have fundamentally misunderstood the novel, or at the very least to have only a diluted grasp of it.
    — Christian Lewis, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025
  • And the headliner of the group, of course, was quarterback Cam Ward, who very likely could be the No. 1 overall pick when the draft gets underway on April 24 in Green Bay.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of very
Verb
  • Even when joking, maintain a tone that underscores your expertise and deep understanding of the market.
    — Paul Boross MBE, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
  • The 20 time All-Star joked about Nash getting a head coaching job in the NBA because of his new hosting gig.
    — Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of joke
Adjective
  • The festive evening, which includes cuisine from Arthur’s, an open bar and a silent auction, begins at 5 p.m. March 30 at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center, 812 E. Rollins St. in Orlando.
    — Matthew J. Palm, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2025
  • The clip showed life before the tragedy — carpool rides and sing-a-longs with the kids as well as festive house parties with the neighbors gathered together — followed by Céline finding her son Max seconds too late, and the torment both families faced as a result.
    — Angel Saunders, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of festive
Adjective
  • Why parents love it: Both the Octonauts series and movie teaches kids about marine biology in a fun, delightful way.
    — Anna Earl, Parents, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Nevertheless, his TikTok video was a delightful reminder of the past.
    — Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of delightful
Adverb
  • Their lack of depth was evident against this extremely deep Gators squad.
    — Baltimore Sun staff, Baltimore Sun, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Probst then allowed Joe to help Eva calm her nerves and re-center herself, before the host himself became extremely emotional from her story.
    — Nick Caruso, TVLine, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of extremely
Adverb
  • Other times, particularly when down by eight to 10 points, the Jayhawks did not look terribly driven.
    — Andy Frye, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
  • The law was most infamously used during the terribly wrong internment of Japanese-American citizens during WWII.
    — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of terribly

Browse Nearby Words

jollity
jolly
jolly boat
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Cite this Entry

“Jolly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jolly. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.

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