gleeful

adjective

glee·​ful ˈglē-fəl How to pronounce gleeful (audio)
Synonyms of gleefulnext
: full of glee : merry
gleeful laughter
gleefully
ˈglē-fə-lē How to pronounce gleeful (audio)
adverb
gleefulness noun

Synonyms of gleeful

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Examples of gleeful in a Sentence

the gleeful atmosphere that envelops the host city of the Super Bowl
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Feeling gleeful at the first excuse to pull on a sweater or light an autumn candle? — Danielle Bouchard, Martha Stewart, 15 Oct. 2026 Jocelyn Bioh’s School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play isn’t a musical, but about two-thirds of the way through, there’s a sing-off that’s both a gleeful showstopper and a wry metatheatrical treat. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2026 But the stage that Springer cultivated was a gleeful one, a tacky spectacle of shock and depravity, an ungodly home for the freaks who knew just what to do when the lights came on. — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026 Victorians adored houseplants and incorporated them into their interiors with gleeful maximalist excess. — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gleeful

Word History

First Known Use

1586, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gleeful was in 1586

Rhymes for gleeful

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Browse Nearby Words

gleed
gleeful
gleek
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Cite this Entry

“Gleeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gleeful. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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