1
as in animated
having much high-spirited energy and movement
couples dancing a gay, fast-paced jig
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nonchalant
having or showing freedom from worries or trouble
a gay, thoughtless girl who didn't care whether her work was done or not
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in merry
indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor
had a gay old time at the party
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in cheerful
having or showing a good mood or disposition
with a gay toss of his coat over his shoulder, the dapper old gentleman set off for the party
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in bright
serving to lift one's spirits
the skylark's gay song lifted me out of my gloom
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in joyful
joyously unrestrained
it was the era of the flappers, and young women were gay, bold, and defiant of convention
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gay
Adjective
-
At the end of the movie, the trio perform the song as themselves — the only non-animated artists featured.—
Jae-Ha Kim,
Rolling Stone,
12 Sep. 2025 -
Those episodes were made with the company's proprietary AI engine, fine-tuned for animated storytelling.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
As with everything else Detective Diaz does, her coming out was so comedically nonchalant and matter-of-fact.—
Catherine Mhloyi,
Them.,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Warren, in his typically nonchalant fashion, downplayed his early impact in the Colts’ offense.—
James Boyd,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
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
-
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
Adjective
-
The team crowded around Johnson and offered hugs with celebratory cheers, shaking him around as Johnson got a bright smile on his face.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Sep. 2025
-
The 18-year-old who was bright, was removed when Reinildo was sent off.—
Michael Walker,
New York Times,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In an era where global conflict, political division, and cultural anxieties can make life feel like a dystopian, Orwellian novel, art has the power to offer both sharp commentary and joyful escape.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
-
The joyful tune avoids assigning blame to the left, and doesn’t touch on the political divide in America or the MAGA movement.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Gadsden was active Sunday for the first time in his NFL career.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Also, keeping your dogs and cats active is a great brain activity and keeps them healthy both mentally and physically.—
Jamie L. LaReau,
USA Today,
21 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
That could be why his inspiration this season draws, maybe wistfully, from his carefree childhood summers growing up in West London’s Wormwood Scrubs.—
Violet Goldstone,
Footwear News,
18 Sep. 2025
-
So for them, moderately high happiness combined with some worry may actually be more functional than being completely carefree.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Gay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gay. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share