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
The Tar Heels went three-up, three-down in the sixth, but the next inning Gallaher and his teammates were having a jolly time on a clear and cool evening at Charles Schwab Field. — CBS News, 14 June 2026 Also, his paint was burned off in just the same spots as the snowman that had, for years, served as a jolly sentry outside our neighbor’s front door—a position that was now vacant, while our own home was, in a first, conspicuously and festively guarded. — Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026
Adverb
The Moon, keeper of patterns, moves through your 3rd House of Communication and forms a smooth trine to jolly Jupiter in your 11th House of Friends. — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 29 May 2026 Holmgren’s world, the one Kenrich Williams portrays as well as the one reality relays, seems mostly jolly. — Fred Katz, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Verb
Director Nisha Ganatra jollies it along, with editor Eleanor Infante making as much rhythmic sense of the mix-ups and physical craziness as possible. — Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025 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 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. enjoyable
Adjective
  • Rounding up his merry men of Sherwood Forest, and his Maid Marian (Olivia de Havilland), Robin goes about resisting John’s rule and securing Richard’s throne.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Fortune’s intrepid tech editor, Alexei Oreskovic, and his merry band of reporters will carry on in my absence.
    — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of merry
Adjective
  • With time for a quick lunch, Zouaghi enjoyed a pleasant farm-to-table meal at Five March before continuing to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, one of Glasgow’s premier cultural institutions.
    — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Join Swamp Fox Tours for a pleasant hour-long history and architecture lesson aboard the blue-and-white tram.
    — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of pleasant
Adverb
  • Romanian officials have warned that the danger to border communities is very real.
    — David Brennan, ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • California eventually adopted a very limited film tax credit plan in 2009, but even then production had already gone elsewhere.
    — Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of very
Verb
  • The two don’t really chat given the 25-year age gap, Simpson joked, but a bond remains.
    — Matt Moret, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
  • To this day, Ryan still isn’t sure if Hanks was being serious or joking.
    — Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of joke
Adjective
  • Some come for the high-octane DJs at Shellona or the all-day revelry of Nikki Beach; others swear by the legendary glamour of Le Club 55 or the festive energy of Casa Amor.
    — Lanie Goodman, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
  • To make the moment more festive, the hospital room was decorated with balloons and flowers, along with a cake.
    — Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of festive
Adjective
  • Food and drink Name two more delightful words in the English language than ‘breakfast buffet’.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Here’s our Beginner’s Guide to Premier League teams, with history, mascots, kits and the most surprising or delightful fact about each team from our reporters.
    — Matt Piper, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of delightful
Adverb
  • The balance between efficiency and pleasantness in doing business seems extremely hard to achieve.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Naegleria fowleri infections are extremely rare, with only 180 confirmed between 1937 and 2025, according to the Louisiana Department of Health.
    — Diego Mendoza, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of extremely
Adjective
  • Define your part, name the deadline, and choose the version of participation that keeps creativity enjoyable and commitment realistic.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2026
  • But the mystery train starts veering off the rails as Flowers wanders away from enjoyable rhinestone reinvention and defaults to the heavy-handed Springsteenian realism that’s sometimes been both his Rosetta stone and his Achilles’ heel.
    — Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of enjoyable

Browse Nearby Words

jollity
jolly
jolly boat
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Jolly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jolly. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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