CHEERFUL Synonyms: 118 Similar and Opposite Words

cheerful

adjective

ˈchir-fəl

Definition of cheerful

as in bright

having or showing a good mood or disposition a cheerful person who is always fun to work with and a pleasure to be around

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in cheery

serving to lift one's spirits a hospital with sunny, cheerful rooms that are designed to make a patient's stay as pleasant as possible

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 cheerful Each room centers on at least one meaningful possession of Corcoran’s, surrounded by custom seating, cheerful window treatments and wall coverings, warm pools of lamplight, and an artful mix of antiques. — David Foxley, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2026 Along the route, another driver yells out their window to say hi to Hollywell, while Ayo spots two friends on bicycles and greets them with a cheerful grin and full-body wave. — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026 Each hot chocolate mix is packaged in its own decorative box with flavors like peppermint swirl, gingerbread, s’mores, chocolate cherry, and more to finish every day with a cheerful sweet treat. — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2026 The party seems cheerful with music and drinks, but something under the surface feels amiss. — Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cheerful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cheerful

Adjective

An exuberant pre-dawn sky — filled with large, bright stars, a luminous crescent moon, and blue and white swirls — dominates the landscape featuring a prominent cypress tree and distant hillside village.

— Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
But the only picture mode that comes close to being that bright also has a notably green bias and ramps up the fan noise to a level that almost anyone will consider intolerable.

— M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of bright

Adjective

The boy was a soccer player who was enchanted by the idea of camping in the woods; Charlotte was bright and cheery, sometimes applying glitter to her father’s mustache.

— Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026
Our dear old Katie, who used to wake us up every morning with her cheery smile, is now nothing more than a miserable LIB Boomer who comments on Danica Patrick's Instagram posts in the middle of the night.

— Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of cheery

Adjective

Skies will calm just in time for a beautiful sunny Saturday in the 70s.

— Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026
In addition to the restaurant and bars, there’s a rooftop pool surrounded by sunny yellow fringed umbrellas, comfy daybeds, and a profusion of plants.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of sunny

Adjective

Walid Itayim plays a free and funky guitar solo over Sami Shabshab’s slick bassline, but the lyrics pierce straight through the upbeat tune.

— Shy Clara Thompson, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026
Meta is having a rough session, down nearly 6%, despite reporting strong revenue growth Wednesday night and painting an upbeat picture on the opportunity for its Muse AI agent business.

— Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of upbeat

Adjective

Women in black hijabs and abayas, many wearing badges depicting Zahra’s smiling face, lined the streets as men prayed over her casket, placed outside the Husseiniya, a Shiite hall.

— Rania Abouzeid, New Yorker, 21 May 2026
As Thomas’ parents, Katina Smith and Bobby Thomas, unveiled their son’s smiling statue in the Broncos’ Ring of Fame Plaza last Sunday, as scores of his former teammates looked on in sadness and joy, Miller was 800 miles away in Dallas, gearing up for a game against the Cowboys.

— Luca Evans, Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2025

Definition of smiling

Adjective

Her portrayal is buoyant and curious, both attuned to and alienated from Mi-ok’s hopes and desires, whether emotional or erotic or material.

— David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026
The story is told from the perspective of infant twins with divergent personalities—Rose is unguardedly buoyant, whereas Marigold is watchful and introspective.

— Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of buoyant

Browse Nearby Words

cheered (up)

cheerful

cheerfully

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Cite this Entry

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“Cheerful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cheerful. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of cheerful

adjective

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