jovial

[ joh-vee-uhl ]

/ ˈdʒoʊ vi əl /

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See synonyms for: jovial / jovially on Thesaurus.com

adjective

endowed with or characterized by a hearty, joyous humor or a spirit of good-fellowship: a wonderfully jovial host.

(initial capital letter) of or relating to the god Jove, or Jupiter.

SYNONYMS FOR jovial

1 merry, jolly, convivial, gay, joyful, mirthful.

See synonyms for jovial on Thesaurus.com

ANTONYMS FOR jovial

1 gloomy.

See antonyms for jovial on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of jovial

First recorded in 1580–90; from Medieval Latin joviālis “of Jupiter” (the planet, supposed to exert a happy influence), equivalent to Latin jovi- (see Jovian) + -ālis -al¹

synonym study for jovial

1. Jovial, jocose, jocular, jocund agree in referring to someone who is in a good humor. Jovial suggests a hearty, joyous humor: a jovial person. Jocose refers to that which causes laughter; it suggests someone who is playful and given to jesting: with jocose and comical airs. Jocular means humorous, facetious, mirthful, and waggish: jocular enough to keep up the spirits of all around him. Jocund, now a literary word, suggests a cheerful, light-hearted, and sprightly gaiety: glad and jocund company.

OTHER WORDS FROM jovial

jo·vi·al·ly, adverbjo·vi·al·ness, nounun·jo·vi·al, adjectiveun·jo·vi·al·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH jovial

jocose, jocular, jocund, jovial (see synonym study at the current entry)

Words nearby jovial

joust, Jouve, j'ouvert, Jouy print, Jove, jovial, joviality, Jovian, Jovian planet, jow, Jowett

How to use jovial in a sentence

While the layout of the restaurant is similar, the space was gutted to create “a more jovial, less corporate” ambiance in an effort to attract a new audience, says Sacco, who relied on the ideas of his significant other, designer Martha Vicas.
Tosca returns to business downtown with a fresh look and new chef|Tom Sietsema|June 4, 2021|Washington Post
“This is a good day,” Diaz said to Chris Canning, a jovial EMT who wore his hair pulled back into a small bun.
The Broken Front Line|by Ava Kofman, photography by Kendrick Brinson and David Walter Banks|April 7, 2021|ProPublica
Even though we were running late, Scott was jovial and candid in his conversation.
Remembering ESPN’s Sly, Cocky, and Cool Anchor Stuart Scott|Stereo Williams|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
With that, he took a huff off a morning joint and moved into the throng of jovial patrons.
A Report From the Misunderstood Gathering of the Juggalos|Steve Miller|July 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Of course, it shouldn't be surprising, as Fallon and Timberlake may be the two most jovial, joyous people in show business.
Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake’s Perfect, Cameo-Filled 'Saturday Night Live'|Kevin Fallon|December 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
[Kevin] had the idea that my character would be more jovial, and I thought he was tragic.
Jim Carrey’s Rant Against ‘Kick-Ass 2’ and 13 Other Stars Who Hate Their Own Films|Marlow Stern|June 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In typical Biden fashion, the ever-jovial VP teased the crowd for being subdued.
'Buy a Shotgun!' & More of Joe Biden's Never-Ending Gaffes|Caitlin Dickson|February 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In private life, all who knew him agreed as to his sympathetic, jovial, and straightforward character.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky|Modeste Tchaikovsky
In his younger days Jacob Worse had been a little wild, and was now a jovial middle-aged man, about fifty years of age.
Skipper Worse|Alexander Lange Kielland
And then he went off to the Convivial Cannibals, where he ate an enormous tripe supper, and was more jovial and violent than ever.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume II (of 3)|Charles James Wills
At times they had a word or two in private, and Macfarlane was from first to last particularly kind and jovial.
Tales and Fantasies|Robert Louis Stevenson
Old Judge Mason, accustomed to seeing Barry in time of stress, tried his best to be jovial.
The White Desert|Courtney Ryley Cooper

British Dictionary definitions for jovial

jovial

/ (ˈdʒəʊvɪəl) /

adjective

having or expressing convivial humour; jolly

Derived forms of jovial

joviality or jovialness, nounjovially, adverb

Word Origin for jovial

C16: from Latin joviālis of (the planet) Jupiter, considered by astrologers to foster good humour

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

jovial

adjective

SYNONYMS FOR jovial

ANTONYMS FOR jovial

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON THE 12 TYPES OF VERB TENSES!

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Origin of jovial

synonym study for jovial

OTHER WORDS FROM jovial

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH jovial

Words nearby jovial

Words related to jovial

How to use jovial in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for jovial

adjective

Derived forms of jovial

Word Origin for jovial