mirth
Americannoun
-
gaiety or jollity, especially when accompanied by laughter.
the excitement and mirth of the holiday season.
- Antonyms:
- gloom
-
amusement or laughter.
He was unable to conceal his mirth.
noun
Related Words
Mirth, glee, hilarity, merriment, jollity, joviality refer to the gaiety characterizing people who are enjoying the companionship of others. Mirth suggests spontaneous amusement or gaiety, manifested briefly in laughter: uncontrolled outbursts of mirth. Glee suggests an effervescence of high spirits or exultation, often manifested in playful or ecstatic gestures; it may apply also to a malicious rejoicing over mishaps to others: glee over the failure of a rival. Hilarity implies noisy and boisterous mirth, often exceeding the limits of reason or propriety: hilarity aroused by practical jokes. Merriment suggests fun, good spirits, and good nature rather than the kind of wit and sometimes artificial funmaking that cause hilarity: The house resounded with music and sounds of merriment. Jollity and joviality may refer either to a general atmosphere of mirthful festivity or to the corresponding traits of individuals. Jollity implies an atmosphere of easy and convivial gaiety, a more hearty merriment or a less boisterous hilarity: The holiday was a time of jollity. Joviality implies a more mellow merriment generated by people who are hearty, generous, benevolent, and high-spirited: the joviality of warm-hearted friends.
Other Word Forms
- mirthful adjective
- mirthfully adverb
- mirthfulness noun
- mirthless adjective
- mirthlessly adverb
- mirthlessness noun
Etymology
Origin of mirth
First recorded before 900; Middle English mirthe, Old English myrgth. See merry, -th 1
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.
At the beginning of the war, Iran’s seemingly scattered attacks on infrastructure, embassies and hotels in Gulf states were a source of mirth for some American commentators.
From Salon • Mar. 18, 2026
Place this alongside Horace in one of his “Epistles”: “The advancing years rob us of every thing: they have taken away my mirth, my gallantry, my revelings, and play.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026
As recently as two days ago, he mentioned how his actions are making the District a place of mirth and virtue.
From Salon • Nov. 28, 2025
“The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show” promises to combat the world’s devastation with campy magic and mirth that only a queer interpretation of Christmas can provide.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 25, 2025
Tears of mirth streaked down his cheeks, leaving trails on his filthy face.
From "Ella Enchanted" by Gail Carson Levine
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.
