1
: characterized by good-humored cheerfulness and conviviality : jolly
a jovial host
a jovial welcome
spent a jovial evening together
2
capitalized
: of or relating to Jove
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Jovial and Birth Dates
In Roman astrology, planets were named after gods, and people were thought to share the personality traits of the god whose planet was rising when they were born. Jupiter, also called Jove, was the chief Roman god and was considered a majestic type who was the source of joy and happiness. The Latin adjective jovialis means "of or relating to Jove." In French, this had become jovial, which English borrowed and used to describe people and things full of cheer or joy.
Synonyms
Examples of jovial in a Sentence
In response, an infuriating wink: Alsana always likes to appear jovial at the very moment that her interlocutor becomes hot under the collar.
—
Zadie Smith, White Teeth, 2001
I felt I was slumming, in my own life. My task was to ward off the drivel … the jovial claptrap of classmates and teachers, the maddening bromides I heard at home.
—Susan Sontag, New Yorker, 21 Dec. 1987
For, the people who were shovelling away on the housetops were jovial and full of glee; calling out to one another from the parapets, and now and then exchanging a facetious snowball …
—Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, 1843
The audience was in a jovial mood.
He's a very jovial man.
Zadie Smith, White Teeth, 2001
I felt I was slumming, in my own life. My task was to ward off the drivel … the jovial claptrap of classmates and teachers, the maddening bromides I heard at home.
—Susan Sontag, New Yorker, 21 Dec. 1987
For, the people who were shovelling away on the housetops were jovial and full of glee; calling out to one another from the parapets, and now and then exchanging a facetious snowball …
—Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, 1843
The audience was in a jovial mood.
He's a very jovial man.
Recent Examples on the Web
The American Kennel Club (AKC) highlights their jovial and friendly nature, which is a hallmark of the breed.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
The video shows a jovial Trump beating a dinner table and then playfully patting Musk on the back.
—Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 30 Nov. 2024
During the festive meal, guests started singing at the top of their lungs and dancing along to the lively tunes of the Juke Joints from ALR Music, a roaming band that kept the mood jovial and energetic throughout dinner.
—Alexandra MacOn, Vogue, 31 Oct. 2024
Comfortable in front of the camera, the two actors make the ludicrous proceedings jovial enough.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 3 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for jovial 
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Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
The video shows a jovial Trump beating a dinner table and then playfully patting Musk on the back.
—Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 30 Nov. 2024
During the festive meal, guests started singing at the top of their lungs and dancing along to the lively tunes of the Juke Joints from ALR Music, a roaming band that kept the mood jovial and energetic throughout dinner.
—Alexandra MacOn, Vogue, 31 Oct. 2024
Comfortable in front of the camera, the two actors make the ludicrous proceedings jovial enough.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 3 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for jovial
Dictionary Entries Near jovial
Cite this Entry
“Jovial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jovial. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
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