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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of festivity
San Diego Comic-Con is finally here, and Entertainment Weekly is giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at all the festivities.
—
Emlyn Travis Updated, EW.com, 24 July 2025
The colorful pagan festivities that have come to be celebrated in the weeks leading up to the Lenten season have different names across the world: Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, and Fasching in Munich.
—Emily Manthei, Travel + Leisure, 22 July 2025
Here are ways to enjoy frosty festivities in the Orlando area.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 July 2025
The festivities will begin at 4 p.m. with a VIP hour at Thread + Seed at 7863 Girard Ave., offering refreshments, in-store experiences, live modeling and music.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for festivity
Emlyn Travis Updated, EW.com, 24 July 2025
The colorful pagan festivities that have come to be celebrated in the weeks leading up to the Lenten season have different names across the world: Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, and Fasching in Munich.
—Emily Manthei, Travel + Leisure, 22 July 2025
Here are ways to enjoy frosty festivities in the Orlando area.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 July 2025
The festivities will begin at 4 p.m. with a VIP hour at Thread + Seed at 7863 Girard Ave., offering refreshments, in-store experiences, live modeling and music.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for festivity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for festivity
Noun
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After 32 years in music, the 53-year Grammy winner clearly still finds his greatest glee in performing.—
Leena Tailor,
HollywoodReporter,
30 July 2025
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Whereas Americans look upon ice with glee, generally speaking Europeans view ice as unnecessary, and even a little gross.—
Francesca Street,
CNN Money,
25 July 2025
Noun
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Many visit for the 1890 Days Jamboree, a Memorial Day weekend festival with live music, a parade, arts and crafts, fireworks, and people walking around in period dress.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
28 July 2025
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The Paramount Studios lot has long been home for both film and TV production, but in truth, has often used as a site for various conferences, food festivals and the like, suggesting its facilities haven’t been fully exploited for many years.—
David Bloom,
Forbes.com,
28 July 2025
Noun
-
Their everlasting merrymaking might seem warm and fuzzy at first glance, but in truth, there is a gloomy undercurrent to their existence, hiding just beneath the surface.—
Tomris Laffly,
Variety,
25 May 2025
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Alternatively, the Perry Lane Hotel, as well as the brand-new, Ann Savannah, will put you in the heart of the merrymaking.—
Madeline Weinfield,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Sophie Cunningham #8 and Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever cheer from the bench against the Chicago Sky at the United Center on June 07, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Aug. 2025
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More cheers and more energy followed in the bottom of the ninth when Cedric Mullins, a one-time All-Star and Silver Slugger with the Baltimore Orioles, made his debut as a pinch hitter.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
2 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Breaking up the wearying journey, devotees gather for outbreaks of extravagant revelry – ground-shaking music and dancing fueled by devotion, ganja and alcohol, as befits in their eyes Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction and renewal, to whom the festival is dedicated.—
Aishwarya S. Iyer,
CNN Money,
25 July 2025
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After a few days of revelry—going to sleep at 3 a.m., waking up at 6 a.m., bull runs, lunches, aperitivos, dances—my constitution was reeling.—
Tony Perrottet,
Smithsonian Magazine,
30 June 2025
Noun
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Such is the current state of the world that people are more entitled than ever to a blast of music and merriment, devoid of unsavory downsides.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2025
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There’s no shortage of Christmas culinary merriment for people heading to Orlando during December to ring in the New Year or celebrate the season.—
Caitlin Palumbo,
Forbes,
13 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The free-living, hard-drinking Brett uses wit and jollity to mask her inner desperation.—
Tony Perrottet,
Smithsonian Magazine,
30 June 2025
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Some years at Cannes, the Med’s most effervescent seasonal kickoff, the bubbles and spice of the social froth provide the jollity.—
Guy Martin,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
Noun
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With the Red Army closing in, such gatherings, expressions of a desperate gaiety, a fin d’une époque efflorescence, weren’t rare.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
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With the Red Army closing in, such gatherings, expressions of a desperate gaiety, a fin d’une époque efflorescence, weren’t rare.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Festivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/festivity. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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