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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This merry, hour-long holiday extravaganza will be stacked with gifts for Bravo fans and feature a number of Yuletide Bravolebrity performances.—
Samantha Stutsman,
People.com,
6 June 2025
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Martin and his merry band of Coldplay troubadours – guitarist Jonny Buckland, bass player Guy Berryman and drummer Will Champion – unleashed their infectious brand of rock May 31 on an adoring California crowd to kick off the final leg of a three year tour that wraps in London this September.—
Marco della Cava,
USA Today,
2 June 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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Here’s a cheerful fringed umbrella that looks a lot more expensive than its $72 price tag.—
Blake Bakkila,
Architectural Digest,
6 June 2025
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Sparkling with Champagne-like bubbles, a bready, light body and a clean, faintly bitter finish, this cheerful beer is ideal for a sunny summer afternoon.—
Peter Rowe,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Festive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/festive. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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