1
2
3
as in merry
indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor had a gay old time at the party

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
5
6

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective gay contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of gay are animated, lively, sprightly, and vivacious. While all these words mean "keenly alive and spirited," gay stresses complete freedom from care and overflowing spirits.

the gay spirit of Paris in the 1920s

When is it sensible to use animated instead of gay?

The words animated and gay can be used in similar contexts, but animated applies to what is spirited and active.

an animated discussion of current events

When might lively be a better fit than gay?

In some situations, the words lively and gay are roughly equivalent. However, lively suggests briskness, alertness, or energy.

a lively debate on the issues

When would sprightly be a good substitute for gay?

While the synonyms sprightly and gay are close in meaning, sprightly suggests lightness and spirited vigor of manner or wit.

a tuneful, sprightly musical

When is vivacious a more appropriate choice than gay?

The synonyms vivacious and gay are sometimes interchangeable, but vivacious suggests an activeness of gesture and wit, often playful or alluring.

a vivacious party host

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gay
Adjective
  • Netflix’s deal with Ubisoft got underway in 2020 and includes multiple Assassin’s Creed projects, including animated and anime series inspired by the games.
    Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 17 July 2025
  • The two animated companions are available to anyone, including Grok users without a paid subscription, but users must opt in through the app’s settings to get access.
    David Ingram, NBC news, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • On vacation, Nicola Peltz styled hers in a breezy, nonchalant way, with a black tank and yellow paisley-print skirt.
    Christian Allaire, Vogue, 23 July 2025
  • The collection’s journey touched down in Argentina, the Scottish Highlands, as well as New Zealand and Australia, home of its merino wool, for a refined traveler’s wardrobe crafted from top-notch fabrications exuding nonchalant sophistication.
    Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • The Lower East Side location is now home to Comal—a new, eclectic Mexican restaurant from chef Gaz Herbert, a Cuernavaca native—and the same downtown crowd seems to have found its merry way there.
    Air Mail, Air Mail, 19 July 2025
  • History doesn’t record whether this plea was met with a merry hail of fat envelopes or with silence.
    Daniel Seifert, JSTOR Daily, 16 July 2025
Adjective
  • From the cast member who clocked my son’s pin collection–and then pointed out the hotel’s own trading station—to our cheerful server at the Lava Pool, who came equipped with sandwich recommendations, everyone was consistently helpful and attentive.
    Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 21 July 2025
  • Olivia Burnette took the lead role as Dorothy Jane Torkelson, providing the show's cheerful voiceover narration.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 20 July 2025
Adjective
  • Owns a favorable athletic profile for a mid-skill with bright green speed and explosion scores.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 20 July 2025
  • Derek is a bright and curious kid who dreams of becoming a scientist one day.
    The Star, Kansas City Star, 20 July 2025
Adjective
  • This book captures her vibrant, joyful voice in conversation with Toshio Meronek.
    Emma Specter, Vogue, 15 July 2025
  • Here are our picks for the most joyful surprises and most egregious snubs.
    EW.com, EW.com, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • Tony Finau is tied with Xander Schauffele for the longest active streak of Tour Championship appearances with eight straight East Lake appearances.
    Mike Dojc, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
  • The debate over whether Louisville is a Northern or Southern city has been active for centuries, and the Gateway to the South nickname seems to have stoked the flames.
    Leo Bertucci, The Courier-Journal, 24 July 2025
Adjective
  • But his support for Trump hasn't always been carefree.
    Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 19 July 2025
  • Supergirl, the cousin of Superman, is younger, edgier and more carefree.
    Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gay. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on gay

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!