as in merry
indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor we arrived at the Christmas party to find everyone already in a festive mood, perhaps owing in part to the punch

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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 festive There's a festive parade, a medallion hunt, lederhosen games, carnival rides, and — of course — plenty of beer. Cailey Gleeson, jsonline.com, 18 Sep. 2025 Enjoy its cottagecore, wintery wine tour without leaving the comfort of your own home; there’s truly nothing more festive than that. Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Sep. 2025 The normally quiet airport turned festive. Rafael Romo, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025 More than just a beer festival, Oktoberfest in Germany celebrates Bavarian culture with its rich history, traditions and festive atmosphere—with options for all ages. Rebecca Deurlein, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for festive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for festive
Adjective
  • However, the night really belonged to 15-year-old Brit Cooper and his merry band of Adolescence superstars.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2025
  • And, of course, the more pumpkins, the merrier!
    Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Lily Mathé, one of the orchestra’s best violinists, vividly remembered being made to play jolly tunes in the SS officers’ mess at Auschwitz every evening while the guards ate their dinner.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Instead of its usual jolly cartoons, the channel began broadcasting footage of Russian military parades accompanied by music of the Russian nationalist singer Oleg Gazmanov.
    Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • For cheerful blooms that will bloom in the fall, then add color to your garden again the next summer, plant coreopsis, a hardy perennial that comes in a range of vibrant hues.
    Heather Bien, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Becky is perky and cheerful to the point of being obnoxious, which sometimes irks Robin.
    Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Festive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/festive. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.

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