as in merry
indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor
we arrived at the Christmas party to find everyone already in a festive mood, perhaps owing in part to the punch
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Recent Examples of festive
The best summer wreaths are a warm-weather update on traditionally festive decor, substituting holly and pine for colorful flowers and lush greenery.
—
Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 20 May 2025
Consider draping the iconic red-and-white Maple Leaf flag across your picnic space to enhance the festive feel.
—Matt Rozo, Mercury News, 19 May 2025
Elliot was dressed in a white and brown onesie with a bunny and two carrots embroidered on top of a pocket for the festive photo shoot.
—Kayla Grant, People.com, 11 May 2025
Videos online showed the ship sailing underneath the bridge, connecting the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Manhattan, as its masts, apparently strung with festive lights, collided with it.
—Gabrielle Banks, USA Today, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for festive
Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 20 May 2025
Consider draping the iconic red-and-white Maple Leaf flag across your picnic space to enhance the festive feel.
—Matt Rozo, Mercury News, 19 May 2025
Elliot was dressed in a white and brown onesie with a bunny and two carrots embroidered on top of a pocket for the festive photo shoot.
—Kayla Grant, People.com, 11 May 2025
Videos online showed the ship sailing underneath the bridge, connecting the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Manhattan, as its masts, apparently strung with festive lights, collided with it.
—Gabrielle Banks, USA Today, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for festive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for festive
Adjective
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And in the middle is a holiday associated with merry drinking and a centuries-old religious figure: St. Patrick's Day.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA TODAY,
16 Mar. 2025
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Not so merry Mary Nothing was ever easy for Mary this season.—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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Crosby released a number of tunes throughout his career that were made perfectly for the jolliest time of the year, and his wins are still coming his way, even decades after his passing.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes,
27 Dec. 2024
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Instead of its usual jolly cartoons, the channel began broadcasting footage of Russian military parades accompanied by music of the Russian nationalist singer Oleg Gazmanov.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Related Stories 13 Under-The-Radar Activities And Experiences In Key West The 11 Best Key West Restaurants On The Water Rooms And Rates The rooms are bright, cheerful, and simple, with colorful coastal touches in artwork and decorative items like pillows.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
24 May 2025
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In the video was a group of dogs, and a professional dog walker managing the calm and cheerful pack, sitting beautifully for the camera.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Festive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/festive. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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