hilarity

noun

hi·​lar·​i·​ty hi-ˈler-ə-tē 

hī-

: boisterous merriment or laughter

Synonyms of hilarity

• glee
• cheerfulness
• merriness
• festivity
• cheer

Examples of hilarity in a Sentence

My attempt to carve the turkey was a source of great hilarity at the dinner table.

hilarity is the last thing you expect to find at a funeral, but we were there to celebrate his life rather than to dwell on his death

Recent Examples on the Web

There's a comedy club right next door for a night of hilarity with top-drawer talent and occasional special guests. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Laura Benanti, one of today’s musical comedy all-stars, understands that human fallibility is at the root of genuine hilarity. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026

Time spent with Abby is worth it, since Hall transcends her character’s flat redundancies by raising every moment to the height of hilarity. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 18 Sep. 2026

Horgan's a genius at squeezing awkward hilarity out of modern life, and this one's sure to be worth watching. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hilarity

• alterity
• asperity
• austerity
• celerity
• dexterity
• disparity
• molarity
• planarity
• polarity
• posterity
• prosperity
• severity

Kids Definition

hilarity

noun

hi·​lar·​i·​ty hil-ˈar-ət-ē 

-ˈer-;

hī-ˈlar-, 

-ˈler-

: noisy fun