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cheerful

cheerful

99 1.0
Happy in a way you show with a smile or friendly actions
  • adjective
  • /ˈtʃɪrfl/
: alegre
  • His red hair, freckled face, and cheerful open expression gave him an innocent, almost childlike look.
  • feel cheerful
  • seem cheerful
  • cheerful expression

But there is no room for anger in the cheerful narcissistic person's world.

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Examples

  • And, and Lois is an incredibly upbeat, cheerful person by nature.

  • I like to be that cheerful, happy person.

  • What did this cheerful young lady get for Christmas?

  • Remember also to keep calm and cheerful.

  • Let's talk about something cheerful.

  • She was a cheerful woman.

  • You'll be in that wonderful minority who lead calm, cheerful, successful lives.

  • He's handsome, cheerful and rich.

  • From the direction of the kitchen came cheerful domestic sounds and muted voices.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The cheerful child smiled brightly as she played with her friends.

Synonyms

glad
vscheerful
∞ 1.0

Feeling pleased or happy about something

is more general positive attitude rather than this specific pleased feeling
excited
vscheerful
∞ 1.0

Feeling very happy and eager about something

is calmer positive feeling rather than strong arousal and energy
sunny
vscheerful
230 1.0

Bright with sunlight or cheerful and pleasant like sunshine

is a general happy attitude rather than this warm bright image
bright
vscheerful
226 1.0

Full of happiness and cheer

is simple positive attitude rather than a vivid outward brightness
jolly
vscheerful
100 1.0

Happy and lively in a friendly way

is a general positive attitude that can be private rather than loudly social
upbeat
vscheerful
76 3.8

Feeling cheerful and hopeful, sometimes too positive for the situation

is a steady positive attitude rather than overt hopeful optimism
joyful
vscheerful
73 1.0

Feeling or showing great happiness

is a milder positive mood rather than this strong delight
joyous
vscheerful
56 1.8

Feeling very happy and showing it

is general positive attitude rather than strongly causing joy
cheery
vscheerful
39 1.0

Happy and bright in a way that makes people smile

is a broader positive mood rather than focusing on improving others' feelings
elated
vscheerful
28 4.0

Feeling very happy and excited because of good news or success

is a gentler positive mood rather than intense highs after events
light-hearted
vscheerful
14 3.5

Happy and not serious

is a positive happy attitude that can also be serious when needed
jubilant
vscheerful
14 5.0

Feeling very happy because of a success or a good event

is general positive attitude rather than event-driven celebration
jovial
vscheerful
13 3.9

Happy and friendly in a lively, joking way

is general positive behavior not only social friendliness and merriment
beaming
vscheerful
13 2.5

Smiling very widely and looking clearly happy

is a general positive attitude rather than only a facial expression
sanguine
vscheerful
12 7.4

Cheerful and hopeful in a difficult situation

is a simple happy attitude not specifically tied to adversity
gleeful
vscheerful
11 1.2

Very happy and excited in a playful way

is a milder positive mood rather than this intense delight
buoyant
vscheerful
10 5.8

Cheerful and full of energy

is calmer positive attitude rather than this energetic liveliness
ebullient
vscheerful
6 8.2

Very lively and full of energy

is a calmer steady positivity rather than this unrestrained energy
in high spirits
vscheerful
5 3.0

Feeling very happy and full of energy

is a calmer steady positive attitude rather than high energy mood
good-humored
vscheerful
  • US
4 3.2

Cheerful and friendly to other people

is general positive behavior rather than specific friendly temper
beamish
vscheerful
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Smiling brightly because you feel happy

is the everyday word for positive behavior rather than literary radiance
chappy
vscheerful
  • UK
1 8.1

Happy and full of energy

is a more neutral happy attitude rather than this active liveliness
in a jolly mood
vscheerful
1 2.8

Feeling happy and cheerful

is the steady positive attitude rather than temporary high mood
gladsome
vscheerful
  • Archaic
1 9.0

Feeling happy and cheerful

is the common modern term for general positive feeling not old-fashioned style

Antonyms

sad
∞ 1.0

Feeling unhappy or upset because of something

445 3.5

Feeling very sad and without hope

196 2.2

Making you feel very sad and that things will not get better

29 2.5

Feeling sad and without much hope

Compounds

A way of speaking that sounds happy and friendly

A happy appearance that hides true feelings

A friendly, happy way of acting that makes others feel better

A small detail that makes something look brighter and happier

How Cheerful

exuberant
22 5.9
jovial
13 3.9
merry
481 1.0
cheerful
99 1.0
pleasant
323 1.0
reserved
29 3.7

Surface Forms

cheerful positive
cheerfuller comparative
cheerfullest superlative

Morphology

cheerful = cheer (transparent) = cheer + ful

Productive suffix -ful combines with 'cheer' to mean 'full of cheer', matching the adjective meaning 'happy and positive'.

Etymology

Cheerful comes from cheer, a word that long ago meant a person's 'face' or 'mood'. So to be cheerful is to have a bright 'mood' or happy 'face', which is why we use it for people who are happy and positive.