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Glite Dictionary
merry

merry

114 1.0
Happy and lively, full of fun and energy
  • adjective
  • /ˈmɛri/
translation icon : alegre
  • We had a merry time dancing and singing at the party last night.
  • merry Christmas
  • merry-go-round

The blank as in the more the merrier or the less the better.

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Examples

  • We wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

  • Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

  • We hope you guys have had a Merry Christmas so far.

  • Have yourself a merry little Christmas dinner.

  • And I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

    Emily Noel

  • Have yourself a merry little Christmas.

    Matteo Lane

  • Oh, my, what a merry feast.

    Scrooged (1988)

  • The sun was shining on the wet grass; somewhere, a merry tune came from a forgotten radio.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Now, you don't just dump the ingredients in a bag and be on your merry way.

    Grave Intentions (2021)

  • The rhythm was too infectious, too merry, and everyone was singing now and clapping their hands.

    Fiction book (1991)

Synonyms

lively
vsmerry
111 1.3

Having a lot of energy and enthusiasm

is similar but places more weight on social fun and cheer
cheerful
vsmerry
111 1.0

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

is similar but adds a playful sense of fun and energy
vibrant
vsmerry
81 4.1

Full of energy and activity that makes people feel excited

keeps cheer but is less about warmth and more about intensity
jolly
vsmerry
79 1.0

Happy and lively in a friendly way

is cheerful and lively but slightly less intensely warm
playful
vsmerry
79 1.6

Full of fun and energy and liking jokes or games

is more general cheerfulness and social energy rather than play
festive
vsmerry
73 2.4

Cheerful and suitable for a party or holiday

is general cheerfulness not limited to special celebrations
joyous
vsmerry
62 1.8

Feeling very happy and showing it

is skinnier on deep joy and focuses on outward fun
perky
vsmerry
45 4.1

Cheerful and full of energy

is more about light fun and general cheer than confident energy
bubbly
vsmerry
20 3.2

Full of cheerful energy and excitement

is similar but framed as simple playful energy rather than sparkle
jovial
vsmerry
12 3.9

Happy and friendly in a lively, joking way

is lighter and more about playful fun than deep friendliness
gleeful
vsmerry
12 1.2

Very happy and excited in a playful way

is cheerful with fun but not always such intense delight
light-hearted
vsmerry
11 3.5

Happy and not serious

is more active and fun focused rather than simply carefree
high-spirited
vsmerry
6 3.9

Full of energy and excitement

adds a playful friendly tone rather than assertive energy
ebullient
vsmerry
5 8.2

Very lively and full of energy

is cheerful but usually calmer and less wildly excited
good-humored
vsmerry
  • US
4 3.2

Cheerful and friendly to other people

is more about playful fun and energetic liveliness
convivial
vsmerry
4 6.2

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

is more about playful energy than sociable gathering focus
chirpy
vsmerry
  • Informal
2 3.1

Feeling happy and full of energy

is broader, adding more playful fun and social warmth
mirthful
vsmerry
1 6.3

Full of joy and laughter

is cheerfully lively but not always loud laughter or amusement
spirited
vsmerry
1 4.1

Full of energy and enthusiasm

is lighter, focusing on cheerful play rather than strong force
frolicsome
vsmerry
1 7.6

Full of playful, lively energy

keeps cheerfulness but is less focused on playful roughness
in a jolly mood
vsmerry
2.8

Feeling happy and cheerful

is the general playful energy felt over time, not just mood

Antonyms

unhappy
463 1.0

Feeling sad or not pleased about something

miserable
443 1.8

Feeling very unhappy or suffering a lot

Idioms

to go on one's merry way
3 7.0

To keep doing something happily without worrying about problems

like merry hell
  • NSFW
9.5

In a very energetic and excited way

to play the Merry Andrew
  • Archaic
9.9

Act in a silly way like a clown to make people laugh

Compounds

merry way
  • Informal
5 4.6

To go on happily after leaving someone or somewhere

merry-go-round
5 3.0

A round ride with seats shaped like animals that turns for people to sit on

merry-go-round
  • Texting
4 4.1

A repeating cycle of events that seems pointless and has no end

merry dance
1 4.4

A lively happy movement people make together at a celebration

merry andrew
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who acts silly to make other people laugh

merry bells
  • Specialized
9.9

A small wild plant with yellow bell-shaped flowers that hang down

merry smile
1.1

A happy look on someone's face that shows joy

merry-go-round
  • Texting
3.8

A set of images on a website that change automatically or when you click

Merry Andrew
  • Archaic
9.9

A person who acts silly to make people laugh

How Merry

ecstatic
69 4.5
gleeful
12 1.2
jovial
12 3.9
merry
114 1.0
cheerful
111 1.0

Surface Forms

merry positive
merrier comparative
merriest superlative

Etymology

The word merry comes from an old English word that meant 'pleasant' and is related to words like mirth ('joy' or 'laughter') and merriment. So to be merry is to be cheerful and full of fun.