festivity

noun

fe-ˈsti-və-tē How to pronounce festivity (audio)
Definition of festivitynext
1
as in cheerfulness
a mood characterized by high spirits and amusement and often accompanied by laughter rather than mourn our friend's death we celebrated his life, and his memorial service was more notable for its festivity than its funereal gloom

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in celebration
a time or program of special events and entertainment in honor of something year-long festivities will mark the 300th anniversary of the city's founding

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in merrymaking
joyful or festive activity in keeping with their habit of doing everything in a big way, the couple's wedding will entail a whole weekend of festivity

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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 festivity The 32-year-old is a member of the parish’s Guadalupana committee, which organizes the festivities and prayers around the Virgin of Guadalupe’s feast day every December. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026 The festivities kicked off with a gala on Friday, followed by a free concert at Victoria’s Inner Harbour on Saturday. — ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026 On August 7, the Kylie Cosmetics founder kicked off her birthday weekend festivities with a princess-kitty pre-party featuring all things pink. — Staff Author, InStyle, 8 Aug. 2026 Saturday’s festivities will include crafts, story time, a scavenger hunt and the chance to see hundreds of fish in their colorful new environment for the first time in months. — Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for festivity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for festivity
  1. cheerfulness
  2. celebration
  3. merrymaking
  4. glee
  5. festival
  6. revelry
  7. cheer
  8. merriment
Noun
  • Kikuko sometimes mistook Shigejiro’s cheerfulness for egoism owing to the distortions produced by her illness.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Positive qualities—promptness, diligence, cheerfulness—sped up your ascent through the ranks; negative ones—laziness, dissipation, late mornings—slowed it down.
    — Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 23 July 2026
Definition of cheerfulness
Noun
  • The finish was calm, and came after good pressing from himself and Viktor Gyokeres, but the celebration that followed was what mattered.
    — Art de Roché, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Official celebrations were set to continue Friday with flag-raising ceremonies and other events.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of celebration
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
  • Republicans are rubbing their hands in glee at the neocommunist advance in their opposing party.
    — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • To the director’s glee, modern audiences may be more uncomfortable with Erika and Elliot’s lopsided power dynamic than the sight of sweet-faced Hoffman in a pig mask and panties.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026
Definition of glee
Noun
  • Two people were killed and several others injured when two shooters opened fire at Canada’s largest street festival in Toronto in July.
    — Mark Morales, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The festival was first announced in February at a press conference attended by Mayor Karen Bass, with organizers — including founder and former city council member Martin Ludlow — anticipating 250,000 attendees for the citywide, weeks-long event.
    — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of festival
Noun
  • Fortunately for us, there are plenty of ways to mix the two this weekend — from spa deals and rum-soaked revelry to a nostalgic hard rock show or a night of stress-busting belly laughs.
    — Kari Barnett, Sun Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Follow the meal schedule For all the joie de vivre and revelry, Spain in general and San Sebastián in particular have a very concrete schedule around eating.
    — Marti Buckley, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of revelry
Noun
  • When the teams were read over the speakers before kick-off, Emery and Madjo received the loudest cheers.
    — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Brian Osorio Zuluaga/Facebook The five men in the video slowly remove the baby then shout for a paramedic before erupting in a euphoric cheer.
    — Duarte Dias, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of cheer
Noun
  • Downtown Saluda turns into a walkable outdoor gallery, showcasing pottery, sculpture, paintings, and all manner of other crafts, and it’s all complemented by live music and general merriment.
    — Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 15 July 2026
  • Throughout the visit, much of which could happen during a spring snowstorm, Denver city leaders will attempt to demonstrate the city’s logistical, financial and merriment potential.
    — Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 5 May 2026
Definition of merriment

Browse Nearby Words

festivities
festivity
festoon
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Cite this Entry

“Festivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/festivity. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of festivity for Spanish Speakers

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