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festive

festive

73 2.4
Cheerful and suitable for a party or holiday
  • adjective
  • /ˈfɛstɪv/
translation icon : festivo
  • The decorations made the room look festive for the holiday party.
  • a festive atmosphere
  • a festive party
  • a festive occasion

Now there's quite a few cute festive cushions around at the MO.

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Examples

  • The balloons are really festive.

  • Now, let's have a festive evening.

  • It's really nice and feels very festive this time of year.

  • We got the house all festive and we made some really fun food.

  • It's going to be super, super good for cold festive times like Christmas.

  • Makes the table look more festive, and the kids enjoy it.

  • This store looks so festive and so cute and colorful.

  • How fun and festive is this for Thanksgiving?

  • Balloons contribute to the festive atmosphere.

  • I'm hoping, Mr. Snyder, that this is going to be a festive occasion.

Synonyms

merry
vsfestive
114 1.0

Happy and lively, full of fun and energy

leans more toward being suitable for celebration than sheer excitement
lively
vsfestive
111 1.3

Having a lot of energy and enthusiasm

is narrower, highlighting cheer that matches holiday or party mood
cheerful
vsfestive
111 1.0

Happy in a way you show with a smile or friendly actions

adds the idea of being especially fit for parties or holidays
vibrant
vsfestive
81 4.1

Full of energy and activity that makes people feel excited

is more centered on creating fun and celebratory gaiety
jolly
vsfestive
79 1.0

Happy and lively in a friendly way

is more about being appropriate for parties and holidays
joyful
vsfestive
70 1.0

Feeling or showing great happiness

is used when cheerfulness also needs to fit a celebration
gay
vsfestive
  • Archaic
64 9.8

Cheerful and lively without worry

is specifically used to describe cheer that suits parties or holidays
joyous
vsfestive
62 1.8

Feeling very happy and showing it

is about cheerfulness tailored to parties and holiday gaiety
celebratory
vsfestive
31 4.0

Made to show happiness at a special event

describes the cheerful mood that makes such events enjoyable
bubbly
vsfestive
20 3.2

Full of cheerful energy and excitement

is focused on cheer that suits parties and holiday events
jubilant
vsfestive
15 5.0

Feeling very happy because of a success or a good event

covers celebration-appropriate cheer but with less focus on triumph
jovial
vsfestive
12 3.9

Happy and friendly in a lively, joking way

is aimed more at creating a celebratory atmosphere than casual warmth
gleeful
vsfestive
12 1.2

Very happy and excited in a playful way

is more focused on creating a festive, party-like mood
buoyant
vsfestive
7 5.8

Cheerful and full of energy

is focused more on cheer suitable for parties and gaiety
ebullient
vsfestive
5 8.2

Very lively and full of energy

is milder, emphasizing celebration suitability rather than intense energy
effervescent
vsfestive
5 7.1

Having lively, cheerful energy that makes others feel excited

is more about cheer especially fitting celebratory occasions
convivial
vsfestive
4 6.2

Friendly and cheerful when with other people, enjoying talk and laughter

emphasizes suitability for joyous events rather than only social warmth
mirthful
vsfestive
1 6.3

Full of joy and laughter

focuses on being apt for formal or informal celebrations
festal
vsfestive
  • Formal
1 8.6

About a celebration like a party, giving a happy, lively feeling

is the general word for cheerfulness suitable for celebrations
celebrative
vsfestive
1 4.9

Showing joy for a special event

focuses on cheerful quality appropriate for holiday or party settings
gladsome
vsfestive
  • Archaic
1 9.0

Feeling happy and cheerful

is specifically used for cheer appropriate to celebrations
lightful
vsfestive
  • Archaic
1 8.9

Cheerful and lively in a way that makes people happy

is focused more on cheer suitable for parties and gaiety
in a jolly mood
vsfestive
2.8

Feeling happy and cheerful

is aimed at cheerfulness that suits holiday or celebratory settings

Antonyms

44 3.8

A gloomy, boring time that makes you feel sad or tired

17 2.1

Making people feel sad because of how it looks or feels

How Festive

exuberant
18 5.9
jolly
79 1.0
festive
73 2.4
cheerful
111 1.0
subdued
11 5.5

Surface Forms

festive positive

Morphology

festive = festival (transparent) = fest + ive

The adjective is regularly formed with the productive suffix '-ive' meaning 'related to' and links clearly to 'festival'/'festivity' (relating to a celebration).

Etymology

The word festive comes from a Latin word that meant 'feast' and shares its root with the English word feast. So something festive is cheerful and suitable for a 'celebration'.