1
as in merry
indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor
an especially jolly crowd of well-wishers at their wedding reception
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pleasant
giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses
we always have a jolly time at their seaside cottage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in very
to a great degree
I jolly well agree that you did the right thing has become a jolly careful driver since his recent accident
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to joke
to make jokes
spent their nights around the campfire good-naturedly jollying and telling scary stories
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of jolly
Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
The shiny, vinyl-like fabric gave the look a modern, sporty edge, tying it back to the game-day setting.
Mahomes and Kelce paired the festive jolly coats with their red and white Chiefs uniforms, blending seamlessly with the football team’s signature colors.
—Ty Gaskins, WWD, 26 Dec. 2024
Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 1 Mar. 2025
Jon Robin Baitz’s family drama is set at Christmas time but there’s very little jolly about it.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Feb. 2025
The Economist, 21 Sep. 2019
So Watt sets out to convince them that the real killer is Peter Manuel by — wait for it! — taking him out on a bender and jollying him into a confession.
—Marilyn Stasio, New York Times, 19 May 2017
See All Example Sentences for jolly
Adjective
The musician also passed away on Christmas Day back in 2016, so the jolly time is also somewhat somber for longtime lovers of the artist.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
The shiny, vinyl-like fabric gave the look a modern, sporty edge, tying it back to the game-day setting.
Mahomes and Kelce paired the festive jolly coats with their red and white Chiefs uniforms, blending seamlessly with the football team’s signature colors.
—Ty Gaskins, WWD, 26 Dec. 2024
Adverb
Guys the size of Reed, 6 feet 10 and 260, can be easy going, jolly giants, or too-gentle giants that can drive a coach crazy.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 1 Mar. 2025
Jon Robin Baitz’s family drama is set at Christmas time but there’s very little jolly about it.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
As to the political will needed to jolly the process along, and arrange payment for those parts of the programme that will not pay for themselves, this can push both ways.
—The Economist, 21 Sep. 2019
So Watt sets out to convince them that the real killer is Peter Manuel by — wait for it! — taking him out on a bender and jollying him into a confession.
—Marilyn Stasio, New York Times, 19 May 2017
See All Example Sentences for jolly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jolly
Adjective
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And in the middle is a holiday associated with merry drinking and a centuries-old religious figure: St. Patrick's Day.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA TODAY,
16 Mar. 2025
-
Not so merry Mary Nothing was ever easy for Mary this season.—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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Make sure to learn about Filipino values, avoid superiority, and be a pleasant neighbor in this country that is welcoming you.—
Kathleen Peddicord,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
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View 7 Images The Tiffin GH1 all-terrain camper van was one of the most pleasant RV surprises of 2024.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
27 May 2025
Adverb
-
Every department, every person in the show, every actor is just bringing it to the very last take to the very last minute.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
27 May 2025
-
Any connection to plot or characters from that game is unknown, but returning to Vice City in the modern day allows Rockstar to play in a very different sandbox than before.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
26 May 2025
Verb
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Nikki Glaser did joke that the secret to longevity as an artist is to never age, and these women are the living (and dancing) proof.—
Alex Apatoff,
People.com,
27 May 2025
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Sure, Trump joked about using the plane himself – but since when does a Trump joke NOT cause a complete public meltdown?—
Rachel Marsden,
Hartford Courant,
23 May 2025
Adjective
-
Radio City Music Hall, the elegant home of the Rockettes, was festive and expectant — at least for about three and a half quarters.—
David Waldstein,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
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Also available at Nordstrom, Reformation’s Mireille Ruffle Puff Sleeve Dress offers the same summer-ready fabric with festive details like dainty ties and an ultra-soft viscose material.—
Kristin Braswell,
Travel + Leisure,
28 May 2025
Adjective
-
These ads — presented as teasers, TV spots, and a theatrical trailer that seemed to begin as a very serious-minded tribute to Disney’s great history — served as a delightful introduction to a character that would grow to become one of the studio’s most popular.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
23 May 2025
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Further, mentorship and collaborative learning, along with providing the right tooling and platforms, can support inexperienced developers and deliver a delightful developer experience to the entire engineering team.—
Faruk Muratovic,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Adverb
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Continuing with her streak of daring silhouettes, the performer took the stage in a black textured jumpsuit with a completely open back that sat extremely low on her hips.—
Rachel Flynn,
People.com,
27 May 2025
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With extremely long battery life, this is a productivity portable that will get you through an entire day on the go, and the keyboard is a pleasure to use.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
27 May 2025
Adverb
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That number is not terribly surprising, given that the La Mesa medical facility treated the 10th-most acute strokes in the state and handled the largest volume in San Diego County in 2023, according to state data.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 May 2025
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The wine list is strikingly good and (also strikingly) not terribly expensive.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
18 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Jolly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jolly. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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