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

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
The Tar Heels went three-up, three-down in the sixth, but the next inning Gallaher and his teammates were having a jolly time on a clear and cool evening at Charles Schwab Field. — CBS News, 14 June 2026 Also, his paint was burned off in just the same spots as the snowman that had, for years, served as a jolly sentry outside our neighbor’s front door—a position that was now vacant, while our own home was, in a first, conspicuously and festively guarded. — Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026
Adverb
Myhrvold, now 66 and still the CEO of Intellectual Ventures, is jolly and excitable in conversation. — Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 27 May 2026 His job is basically to keep poachers away and to make sure that there are enough pheasants for a jolly shooting party (which, since Sir Clifford uses a wheelchair, seems an improbable entertainment at Wragby). — Louis Menand, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Verb
As to the political will needed to jolly the process along, and arrange payment for those parts of the programme that will not pay for themselves, this can push both ways. — The Economist, 21 Sep. 2019 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
  • Some may argue that the more the merrier applies as much to advocacy for social justice as to anything else.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 28 June 2026
  • When former President Barack Obama addressed the massive, merry crowd at the Obama Presidential Center dedication ceremony on June 18, a few lines landed like a balm.
    — Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026
Definition of merry
Adjective
  • Despite the minimalism and lack of physical controls, the EX30 interior isn’t a bad place to be—Volvo’s interior designers tend to understand the assignment well, and the textures and materials are pleasant to the touch.
    — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 1 July 2026
  • This was a pleasant surprise given the significant worldwide controversy surrounding Huawei’s dominance in constructing 4G infrastructure.
    — Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of pleasant
Adverb
  • Despite consuming mass quantities of high-calorie foods during competition season, most professional competitive eaters are very lean.
    — Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Music icon Taylor Swift and football star Travis Kelce, who announced their engagement in August 2025, are anticipated to tie the knot very soon.
    — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Definition of very
Verb
  • According to her statement, Jake was opening a new pack of football cards and joking with his grandmother when Walter's vehicle struck theirs.
    — Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026
  • Trying to Open Taxi Doors People often joke about Japan living in the future.
    — Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026
Definition of joke
Adjective
  • The Wharf also presents diverse choices, from Willowsong's local farm-to-table focus to Tiki TNT's festive rum bar, showcasing the capital's rich and varied gastronomic landscape.
    — Lanee Lee, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • This dip set features glittery red and green nails, accented with white and gold accents for a festive finish.
    — Amanda Le, InStyle, 29 June 2026
Definition of festive
Adjective
  • Small in size but big on personality, Little Spirit remains one of Atlanta’s most consistently delightful neighborhood cocktail bars.
    — Blair Crosby, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
  • Sidny Lopes Cabral’s delightful curling strike was one of the great World Cup moments and the image of him in the crowd right after was poignant.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of delightful
Adverb
  • The team turned to the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory, a stadium-sized synchrotron facility that produces extremely bright X-ray beams.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 July 2026
  • Teasing out the impact of a small dose of radiation that occurs in addition to all those other exposures is extremely challenging, and the impact of extremely low exposures has not been decisively demonstrated.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 6 July 2026
Definition of extremely
Adjective
  • More than 90% agreed or strongly agreed that scent work is enjoyable for dogs, tires them out and builds confidence in shy dogs.
    — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 2026
  • An enjoyable end-to-end affair where the first half felt like a rout, with Australia having as many shots as yellow cards — two, the same number of goals the United States had scored.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 5 July 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 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of jolly for Spanish Speakers

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