Jovial | Definition of jovial by Merriam-Webster

Full Definition of JOVIAL

1

capitalized : of or relating to Jove

2

: markedly good-humored especially as evidenced by jollity and conviviality

— jo·vi·al·i·ty \ˌjō-vē-ˈa-lə-tē\ noun

— jo·vial·ly \ˈjō-vē-ə-lē, -vyə-\ adverb

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Examples of JOVIAL

In response, an infuriating wink: Alsana always likes to appear jovial at the very moment that her interlocutor becomes hot under the collar. —Zadie Smith, White Teeth, 2001
I felt I was slumming, in my own life. My task was to ward off the drivel … the jovial claptrap of classmates and teachers, the maddening bromides I heard at home. —Susan Sontag, New Yorker, 21 Dec. 1987
For, the people who were shovelling away on the housetops were jovial and full of glee; calling out to one another from the parapets, and now and then exchanging a facetious snowball… —Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, 1843
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First Known Use of JOVIAL

1592

Related to JOVIAL

Synonyms: blithesome, festive, gay, gleeful, jocose, jocular, jocund, jolly, merry, laughing, mirthful, sunny

Synonym Discussion of JOVIAL

merry, blithe, jocund, jovial, jolly mean showing high spirits or lightheartedness. merry suggests cheerful, joyous, uninhibited enjoyment of frolic or festivity <a merry group of revelers>. blithe suggests carefree, innocent, or even heedless gaiety <arrived late in his usual blithe way>. jocund stresses elation and exhilaration of spirits <singing, dancing, and jocund feasting>. jovial suggests the stimulation of conviviality and good fellowship <dinner put them in a jovial mood>. jolly suggests high spirits expressed in laughing, bantering, and jesting <our jolly host enlivened the party>.

Definition of JOVIAL for Kids

: ¹jolly

— jo·vial·ly adverb

Learn More About JOVIAL

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "jovial"

Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "jovial"

Nglish: Translation of "jovial" for Spanish speakers

Britannica English: Translation of "jovial" for Arabic speakers

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