gleeful

adjective

glee·​ful ˈglē-fəl How to pronounce gleeful (audio)
Synonyms of gleefulnext
: full of glee : merry
gleeful laughter
gleefully adverb
gleefulness noun

Examples of gleeful in a Sentence

the gleeful atmosphere that envelops the host city of the Super Bowl
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Through gleeful anarchy, a variety of filters, and a kinetic score, the two Maries spoil themselves with sweets, outwit suitors, and desecrate the rituals of fine dining in a glorious climax of rebellion. Jennifer Noyes, Air Mail, 25 Apr. 2026 This relic of a production, however, doesn’t feel particularly dangerous, shocking or even gleeful. Frank Rizzo, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026 Both he and Tolentino frame the at-times-gleeful public reaction to the killing as understandable because the health-care industry is structurally oppressive. Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026 Biles wrote alongside a gleeful February 2022 pic of the pair. Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gleeful

Word History

First Known Use

1586, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gleeful was in 1586

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Cite this Entry

“Gleeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gleeful. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

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