mirthful

1 6.3

Full of joy and laughter

adjective
/ˈmɜrθfəl/

: alegre

He shared a mirthful joke that had everyone in the office smiling and chuckling.
mirthful eyes
mirthful sound
mirthful look

Examples

And her face, too, is visible: her countenance careless and pensive, and musing and mirthful, and mocking and tender.

Academic text (1992)
The lines under his light hazel eyes made him look mirthful and catlike.

Fiction book (2002)
I don't remember being such a mirthful child.

The Dressmaker (2015)
Her mouth is puckered into a mirthful V: she is trying to suppress a smile.

Fiction book (1993)
Casimir sprawled onto his back, and a mirthful shout rang up from the crowd.

Fiction book (1992)
If he'd been particularly mirthful that day, kidding Mom about her family, she wouldn't let me get him anything, and I'd cry and cry and cry.

Fiction book (2001)
By turns mirthful, wise, and solemn, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama addressed a full-house crowd in Middlebury on Saturday.

Blog text (21)
The children were mirthful as they played games and laughed together in the park.
Her mirthful laughter filled the room during the festive celebration.

Synonyms

happy

vsmirthful

∞ 1.0

Feeling pleased and content

is more about active amusement and laughing joy than quiet contentment

glad

vsmirthful

∞ 1.0

Feeling pleased or happy about something

is more about lively amusement and laughter rather than calm pleasure

merry

vsmirthful

114 1.0

Happy and lively, full of fun and energy

is broader, focusing on joyful laughter as well as simple cheer

jolly

vsmirthful

79 1.0

Happy and lively in a friendly way

is more about amused happiness and laughter than general good humor

joyful

vsmirthful

70 1.0

Feeling or showing great happiness

is similar but often tied to lighter laughter and amusement

gay

vsmirthful

Archaic

64 9.8

Cheerful and lively without worry

is more modern and centers on amusement and laughing joy

joyous

vsmirthful

62 1.8

Feeling very happy and showing it

leans more toward amusing cheer and laughing expression than broad joy

jubilant

vsmirthful

15 5.0

Feeling very happy because of a success or a good event

is more about spontaneous amusement and laughter than celebratory triumph

jovial

vsmirthful

12 3.9

Happy and friendly in a lively, joking way

focuses more on joyous laughter and amusing moments than friendliness

gleeful

vsmirthful

12 1.2

Very happy and excited in a playful way

is milder, centering on cheerful amusement rather than intense delight

rapturous

vsmirthful

6 7.0

Feeling or showing great joy and excitement

is less intense, emphasizing light amusement and laughter instead

ebullient

vsmirthful

5 8.2

Very lively and full of energy

is milder, focusing on amusement and laughter rather than energetic display

jocund

vsmirthful

Archaic

1 9.3

Feeling happy and lively

is similar but also highlights amusing laughter rather than only spirit

gladsome

vsmirthful

Archaic

1 9.0

Feeling happy and cheerful

adds an element of amusement and laughter to that happiness

beamish

vsmirthful

Archaic

1 9.9

Smiling brightly because you feel happy

is similar but less literary and more about amusing laughter

riant

vsmirthful

Literature

9.9

Being happy and smiling

is broader, emphasizing audible laughter and amusing feeling as well

Antonyms

mirthless

2 8.0

A smile or laugh that shows no real joy

How Joyful

ecstatic

69 4.5

mirthful

1 6.3

cheerful

111 1.0

merry

114 1.0

amused

18 1.0

Surface Forms

mirthful positive

Morphology

mirthful = mirth (transparent) = mirth + ful

The adjective is a direct formation from the noun 'mirth' with the productive suffix '-ful' meaning 'full of', so its meaning is directly derivable.

Etymology

Mirthful comes from the old English word mirth meaning 'joy' or 'laughter', and the ending -ful means 'full of'. So a mirthful person is 'full of joy' and laughter, like someone smiling and laughing happily.