merry [mer-ee] (previously 12-24-19)
adjective, mer·ri·er, mer·ri·est.
1. full of cheerfulness or gaiety; joyous in disposition or spirit: a merry little man.
2. laughingly happy; mirthful; festively joyous; hilarious: a merry time at the party.
3. Archaic . causing happiness; pleasant; delightful.
Idioms
4. make merry ,
a. to be happy or festive: The New Year's revelers were making merry in the ballroom.
b. to make fun of; ridicule: The unthinking children made merry of the boy who had no shoes.
Related forms
mer·ri·ly , adverb
mer·ri·ness , noun
o·ver·mer·ri·ly , adverb
o·ver·mer·ri·ness , noun
o·ver·mer·ry , adjective
un·mer·ri·ly , adverb
un·mer·ry , adjective
Can be confused
marry, Mary
Related Words for merry
pleasant, winsome, enjoyable, mad, joyous, sunny, rollicking, jolly, cheerful, lively, hilarious, amusing, comical, joyful, glad, lighthearted, fun-loving, blithe, boisterous, boon
Synonyms for merry
See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com
1. happy, blithe, blithesome, frolicsome, cheery, glad.
2. jolly, jovial, gleeful.
Antonyms for merry
1. sad.
2. solemn.
Origin: before 900; Middle English meri(e ), myrie, murie, Old English myr(i)ge, mer(i)ge pleasant, delightful
EXAMPLES FROM THE WEB FOR MERRY
Because we all grew up initially thinking it was “God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen.”
YES, I LIKE CHRISTMAS MUSIC. STOP LAUGHING.|MICHAEL TOMASKY|DECEMBER 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Bohac said the bill does not require anyone to say “Merry Christmas” if they are not up for it.
A FIELD GENERAL IN THE WAR ON CHRISTMAS|DAVID FREEDLANDER|DECEMBER 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But asked if he would say “Merry Christmas” to someone who he knew did not celebrate the holiday, he paused for several seconds.
A FIELD GENERAL IN THE WAR ON CHRISTMAS|DAVID FREEDLANDER|DECEMBER 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Deck your halls instead with boughs of holly, shouting “Merry Christmas” (or “Happy Hanukkah”) well into the night.
A FIELD GENERAL IN THE WAR ON CHRISTMAS|DAVID FREEDLANDER|DECEMBER 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In his last tweet, he wished his followers a “Merry Christmas.”
RAND PAUL HAS A FEW FESTIVUS GRIEVANCES|BEN JACOBS|DECEMBER 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The sound of merry voices and laughing came from within, and his first hesitating knock was unanswered.
TOM BROWN'S SCHOOL DAYS|THOMAS HUGHES
I can't be merry so near any splenetic talk; so I made that long line, and now all's well again.
THE JOURNAL TO STELLA|JONATHAN SWIFT
He was no less delighted to see the boys than Aunt Lucy had been, and the meal was a merry one.
THE GOLDEN BOYS AND THEIR NEW ELECTRIC CELL|L. P. WYMAN
Now stretch out in line, my merry ones, with arrow on string, and I shall show you such sport as only the King can give.
THE WHITE COMPANY|ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
His “Merry Christmas” to Mrs. Purtett was followed up by a ravished kiss and the gift of a silver butter-knife.
THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY, VOLUME 09, NO. 51, JANUARY, 1862|VARIOUS
