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 frustrated bride explained that her brother’s abrupt wedding plans poses multiple roadblocks to her wedding festivities.
—
Raven Brunner, People.com, 31 Mar. 2025
August's festivities are moving to Disney's Coronado Springs Resort.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2025
Sophie, Sammy and their parents joined in on the holiday festivities.
—Nasha Smith, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Even more surprising, the bride-to-be, 34, ended up on the podium as the third-place women's finisher after running the Brighton Marathon in England on Sunday, April 6 — while hungover from the previous night's festivities, per the BBC.
—Erin Clack, People.com, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for festivity
Raven Brunner, People.com, 31 Mar. 2025
August's festivities are moving to Disney's Coronado Springs Resort.
—Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2025
Sophie, Sammy and their parents joined in on the holiday festivities.
—Nasha Smith, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Even more surprising, the bride-to-be, 34, ended up on the podium as the third-place women's finisher after running the Brighton Marathon in England on Sunday, April 6 — while hungover from the previous night's festivities, per the BBC.
—Erin Clack, People.com, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for festivity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for festivity
Noun
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What’s causing this mockery and glee at misfortune?—
Callum Booth,
Forbes,
12 Mar. 2025
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Another way of positioning this reaction is as an example of schadenfreude, a term used to explain taking glee in someone’s suffering—and that’s a key reason to explaining why some people are reacting to the stock market dip in this way.—
Callum Booth,
Forbes,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
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This kind of big festival is really a super good opportunity to send this message.—
Katie Bain,
Billboard,
10 Apr. 2025
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The festival is opening with a female debut filmmaker for the first time in the shape of Amélie Bonnin’s Leave One Day, and seven of the 19 films in Competition are first-time Palme d’Or contenders.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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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
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In fact, ancient Romans celebrated the day with a fertility festival with animal sacrifices and drunken merrymaking.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA TODAY,
13 Feb. 2025
Noun
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There were cheers from many corners Monday at the ribbon cutting for the Towneplace Suites by Marriott, a 176-room extended stay hotel that’s definitely a standout building on West San Carlos Street.—
Sal Pizarro,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2025
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When Heupel was the first face to emerge from the buses, he was greeted with a raucous cheer as soon as his white sneakers touched the pavement.—
David Ubben,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Its annual Oktoberfest brings visitors flocking in the fall for revelry.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
23 Feb. 2025
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With its anthemic music, world-famous cuisine, vibrant architecture, and Mardi Gras revelry, New Orleans delivers a visual and thematic backdrop as hearty and flavorful as its famous gumbo.—
James Mercadante,
EW.com,
8 Feb. 2025
Noun
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This affection is palpable when kids laugh right back at Steve’s wild-eyed merriment and his sympatico rivalry with Garrett.—
Armond White,
National Review,
16 Apr. 2025
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Choreography and merriment Hyundai will announce a $20 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing on Monday during an event at the White House, people familiar with the matter told CNBC.—
Jacob Pramuk,
CNBC,
24 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Sign up Eating and drinking (Image credit: Riverside Luxury Cruises) The first thing to say about eating on The Ravel is that there is no Captain's Table or forced jollity with other passengers.—
James Rampton,
theweek,
6 Nov. 2024
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While the jollity may look a bit different from city to city, these global destinations keep the holiday cheer going year after year.—
Caitlin Morton,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 Nov. 2023
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 22 Apr. 2025.
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