1
as in cheerfulness
a mood characterized by high spirits and amusement and often accompanied by laughter
rather than mourn our friend's death we celebrated his life, and his memorial service was more notable for its festivity than its funereal gloom
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in celebration
a time or program of special events and entertainment in honor of something
year-long festivities will mark the 300th anniversary of the city's founding
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in merrymaking
joyful or festive activity
in keeping with their habit of doing everything in a big way, the couple's wedding will entail a whole weekend of festivity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of festivity
The New York Yankees are coming away from the All-Star festivities with some memorable moments, but a win for the American League in the Midsummer Classic itself wasn't among them.
—
Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 July 2025
Designs four dresses for the festivities, all of which were iterated on in her spring 2025 collection.
—Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 15 July 2025
The Sons of Texas tag team was already involved in an eight-man tag-team match during the pre-show festivities.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2025
London held its 2025 Pride festivities on July 5 this year, with Chaka Kahn headlining a day of celebrations that also featured a number of LGBTQ+ performers in the central part of the city.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for festivity
Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 July 2025
Designs four dresses for the festivities, all of which were iterated on in her spring 2025 collection.
—Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 15 July 2025
The Sons of Texas tag team was already involved in an eight-man tag-team match during the pre-show festivities.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2025
London held its 2025 Pride festivities on July 5 this year, with Chaka Kahn headlining a day of celebrations that also featured a number of LGBTQ+ performers in the central part of the city.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for festivity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for festivity
Noun
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Guests applaud with glee as the couple make their way back down the aisle and share a dip and a kiss!—
Victoria Uwumarogie,
Essence,
16 July 2025
-
Democrats are experiencing a devilish glee as MAGA World clashes over the Trump administration’s push to defuse conspiracy theories surrounding the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.—
Mike Lillis,
The Hill,
9 July 2025
Noun
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The film screened at over 90 festivals, received 17 awards, and is currently featured on The New Yorker Screening Room and the Criterion Channel.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
15 July 2025
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The duo took the festival’s stage just before Kneecap, another band that has been outspoken in its support of Palestinians amid Israel’s war on Hamas.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
15 July 2025
Noun
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Their everlasting merrymaking might seem warm and fuzzy at first glance, but in truth, there is a gloomy undercurrent to their existence, hiding just beneath the surface.—
Tomris Laffly,
Variety,
25 May 2025
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Alternatively, the Perry Lane Hotel, as well as the brand-new, Ann Savannah, will put you in the heart of the merrymaking.—
Madeline Weinfield,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
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All the noise came to a sudden stop as the lights dimmed, and then a burst of cheers as fans realized the concert was about to begin.—
Laura Sirikul,
Forbes.com,
19 July 2025
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That includes Rory McIlroy, who went around Royal Portrush in his native Northern Ireland with plenty of cheers but only a few roars.—
Doug Ferguson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 July 2025
Noun
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Breaking up the wearying journey, devotees gather for outbreaks of extravagant revelry – ground-shaking music and dancing fueled by devotion, ganja and alcohol, as befits in their eyes Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction and renewal, to whom the festival is dedicated.—
Aishwarya S. Iyer,
CNN Money,
25 July 2025
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After a few days of revelry—going to sleep at 3 a.m., waking up at 6 a.m., bull runs, lunches, aperitivos, dances—my constitution was reeling.—
Tony Perrottet,
Smithsonian Magazine,
30 June 2025
Noun
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Such is the current state of the world that people are more entitled than ever to a blast of music and merriment, devoid of unsavory downsides.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2025
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There’s no shortage of Christmas culinary merriment for people heading to Orlando during December to ring in the New Year or celebrate the season.—
Caitlin Palumbo,
Forbes,
13 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The free-living, hard-drinking Brett uses wit and jollity to mask her inner desperation.—
Tony Perrottet,
Smithsonian Magazine,
30 June 2025
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Some years at Cannes, the Med’s most effervescent seasonal kickoff, the bubbles and spice of the social froth provide the jollity.—
Guy Martin,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
Noun
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With the Red Army closing in, such gatherings, expressions of a desperate gaiety, a fin d’une époque efflorescence, weren’t rare.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
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With the Red Army closing in, such gatherings, expressions of a desperate gaiety, a fin d’une époque efflorescence, weren’t rare.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Festivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/festivity. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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