merriment
Americannoun
-
cheerful or joyful gaiety; mirth; hilarity; laughter.
- Antonyms:
- melancholy, misery
-
Obsolete. a cause of mirth; a jest, entertainment, etc.
noun
Synonym Usage
See mirth.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of merriment
Explanation
Merriment can refer to fun activities or a feeling of happiness. Either way, a good time is being had. You know how merry means happy? Merriment refers to events and feelings that are happy. A party is a perfect example of merriment. If you hear a bunch of people laughing and joking, you might say, "Why all the merriment?" Merriment can also be an emotion: if you're very excited or happy, you're experiencing merriment.
Vocabulary lists containing merriment
Frankenwords: Words with Roots from Different Languages
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Words for the International Day of Happiness
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Chains
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Music is a reward for efficient work in “Severance,” whether it be a Defiant Jazz dance break or a rousing marching band performance by the Choreography and Merriment department.
From Salon • Dec. 14, 2025
Merriment is yet to hit the album charts in full force, as only one of the top five albums - Michael Buble's Christmas - is a festive one.
From BBC • Dec. 8, 2023
Merriment A reception was held that evening at Terrace on the Park in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens.
From New York Times • Oct. 22, 2021
Aside from her spot at Everett, the Lunch Lady food truck recently made an appearance at Midnight Merriment earlier this month.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 11, 2017
Puritans; "Mysteries of Love and Eloquence;" "Sportive Wit or Muses' Merriment," which last brought the Council down upon John Phillips as a propagator of immorality.
From Life of John Milton by Garnett, Richard
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
