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

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

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
His jolly presence, which is 21-feet wide, is stopping drivers in front of Katie Aalerud's house. —Mike Sullivan, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026 While his jolly personality won him many friends at the top of the pyramid, his flock of ordinary Catholics saw only his other side. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2026
Adverb
While there are still January holidays on the horizon for Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims, today is the 12th day of Christmas — and then the holly-jolly season will be quickly wrapped and done. —Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026 At Christmas morning church service in Sandringham, Norfolk, Kate Middleton, King Charles and Queen Camilla look jolly upon arrival. —Katie Hill, PEOPLE, 25 Dec. 2025
Verb
This isn’t a report by the fun police: Twelfth Night is bursting with life and humor and should by no means be a moody slog, but Ali’s production is too intent on jollying us along. —Sara Holdren, Vulture, 22 Aug. 2025 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 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
  • Petrie, Doz and Morrow play multiple roles, including a gossipy Greek chorus and the band of merry fisherman (truly an astonishing array of Canadian accent work on display).
    — Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
  • These are the chapters that feature the merry trickster of the forest, Tom Bombadil, a classic fiddle-dee-dee-mischief type who waylays the hobbits at the onset of their quest.
    — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2026
Definition of merry
Adjective
  • For a vehicle celebrated for sipping fuel rather than burning it, that’s a pleasant surprise.
    — Sponsored Content, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Parks rose to fame in her teens, winning the Mercury Prize for her 2021 debut album Collapsed in Sunbeams, a diaristic clutch of pleasant soft-rock songs.
    — Aimee Cliff, Pitchfork, 3 Apr. 2026
Definition of pleasant
Adverb
  • There are double lotteries and protections that would put a safety net beneath the very worst teams.
    — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
  • For activities lasting longer than 1-2 hours, or in very hot environments, sports drinks can help replenish carbohydrates and electrolytes, but be mindful of sugar content.
    — Dr. Sarah Kinsella, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
Definition of very
Verb
  • The site joked that Tom Hiddleston would play the franchise’s first Bond boy and Gillian Anderson would be the new M in the Amazon film directed by Denis Villeneuve and written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight — the last two of whom are genuinely attached to the 26th Bond movie.
    — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Apr. 2026
  • The unusual survival of the snack soon sparked reactions online, with many commentators joking about the resilience of the popular cheese puffs.
    — Claire Dodds, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Definition of joke
Adjective
  • There was the festive atmosphere at the team hotel in downtown Indianapolis, the city starting to come alive.
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Their annual festive holiday gift exchange spirals into a cutthroat game of Christmas carnage.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
Definition of festive
Adjective
  • But cookbook author Joshua McFadden’s Spring Carbonara, which uses a ton of fresh spring peas, is absolutely delightful.
    — Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 Apr. 2026
  • Surrounded by a delightful cast of weirdos — with a scene-stealing, hilarious turn by Marc Maron as sleazy director Sam Sylvia — GLOW is a comedy match-up worth cheering for.
    — Andrew Walsh, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Apr. 2026
Definition of delightful
Adverb
  • That can be attributed to the fact that Rolex models were already highly valued in 2018 and were also in extremely high demand during the pandemic.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Almost all natural bodies of water bear fish life, with the exception of very hot thermal ponds and extremely salt-alkaline lakes, such as the Dead Sea in Asia and the Great Salt Lake in North America.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Definition of extremely
Adjective
  • Hosting a dinner party is infinitely more enjoyable with a partner in crime to help curate the playlist and the guest list, keep the conversation and the drinks flowing, and take a load off the planning.
    — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 3 Apr. 2026
  • The film adds a slew of new voice actors to the mix, like Brie Larson as Rosalina (sounding, perhaps, a little too much like Taylor-Joy’s Peach) and Donald Glover as Yoshi, a chaotic and enjoyable addition to the gang.
    — Lindsey Bahr, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Definition of enjoyable

Browse Nearby Words

jollity
jolly
jolly boat
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Cite this Entry

“Jolly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jolly. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of jolly for Spanish Speakers

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