merriment

noun

ˈmer-i-mənt How to pronounce merriment (audio)
Definition of merrimentnext
1
as in glee
a mood characterized by high spirits and amusement and often accompanied by laughter their unexpected merriment made him nervously inquire as to the reason for it

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in festivity
joyful or festive activity the wedding reception merriment lasted long into the night

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 merriment Their laughs and chatter fill the countryside and one another’s hearts, the merriment binding them all together like caterpillars in one big cocoon. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2026 Then, to the merriment of all, Zefarino and the boys would come in with three bucks. — Jack O'Connor, Outdoor Life, 23 Apr. 2026 Lanie breaks into the merriment. — Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026 And with that same energy, my wife and I trodded further into the fair in hot pursuit of merriment and wonder. — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for merriment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for merriment
  1. glee
  2. festivity
  3. cheerfulness
  4. celebration
  5. cheer
  6. merrymaking
  7. mirth
  8. jollity
Noun
  • The glee with which the abbey was dismantled reflected centuries of tension between the town authorities and the monks.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The Astros’ fans seemed to appreciate Perez having fun, and after all these years, no one plays the game with more glee.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of glee
Noun
  • Thanks to off-season discounts, fall is a notoriously excellent time to prep your patio or backyard for next year’s outdoor festivities.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Kim and his cast joined the festivities, with the film starring host Kim Min-ha alongside Joo Jong-hyuk, Han Sun-hwa, Chang Ryul, Shim Eun-kyung, Lee Hee-jun, Jeon So-young and Kim Dong-hwi.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of festivity
Noun
  • The service Professionalism comes with genuine warmth, cheerfulness, and a sense of people absolutely loving their jobs.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Kikuko sometimes mistook Shigejiro’s cheerfulness for egoism owing to the distortions produced by her illness.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of cheerfulness
Noun
  • The festival arrives as Kansas City’s culinary landscape continues expanding, with Asian restaurants, cultural celebrations and food entrepreneurs gaining greater visibility throughout the region.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026
  • But when Gordon scored his touchdown against the Vikings, Wright was in the middle of the group celebration.
    — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of celebration
Noun
  • Davidson's request was immediately met with cheers and thunderous applause from the studio audience.
    — Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Children's Hospital Los Angeles is kicking off its annual Halloween card drive, hoping to spread spooky cheer to patients and raise some funds.
    — Julie Sharp, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of cheer
Noun
  • Nor did great merrymaking surround its 2001 move to pioneer quantitative easing.
    — William Pesek, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
  • Once ground was completely covered with shards of tableware, folks journeyed from their seats into the center of the room for more dancing and merrymaking.
    — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 11 June 2026
Definition of merrymaking
Noun
  • Their pairing begs the question of whether misery and mirth alternate, blend, or coexist.
    — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 14 June 2026
  • There’s a fair bit of mirth in all this, and in Glanz’s brittle, snippy dialogue, which is abetted by the casting.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 4 June 2026
Definition of mirth
Noun
  • But the rollicking jollity that accompanies the final two acts, which includes the entrance of pirates and the abduction of Marina to a brothel, robs the ending of some of its pathos.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The finale is an ambiguous mix of jollity and agitation, with a piccolo shrieking above a militant march.
    — Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026
Definition of jollity

Browse Nearby Words

merrily
merriment
merriness
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Cite this Entry

“Merriment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/merriment. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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