Definitions

jolly

[jol-ee] / ˈdʒɒl i /

ADJECTIVE

laughing, joyful

Synonyms

STRONGEST

carefree cheerful chipper convivial enjoyable festive jovial joyous lighthearted merry playful pleasant

STRONG

entertaining gay joshing larking

WEAK

blithe blithesome bouncy chirpy daffy delightful frolicsome gladsome gleeful happy jocund jokey jubilant lots of laughs mirthful sportive sprightly

Antonyms

STRONGEST

depressed disagreeable gloomy grave sad serious troubled unhappy unpleasant upset worried

STRONG

dull unamusing

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

And if she'd jolly well kept herself to herself and been nominated as a leading actress they would have nominated me in supporting.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

Puckish humor, high-culture references and interior artwork by Ashley Mackenzie and Virginia Allyn give excitement and heft to this jolly read for children ages 10 and older.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

“Good Pope John” was far more than the jolly Italian nonno of popular legend.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 4, 2025

Tis supposed to be the season to be jolly.

From Barron's • Dec. 1, 2025

In either corner of the hall, over the nursery doorway, two grinning heads were set; meant, apparently, as gay decorations for the nursery entrance, they were no more jolly or carefree than the animals inside.

From "The Haunting of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson

jolly

Example Sentences

Related Words