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Definitions

cheerful

[cheer-fuhl] / ˈtʃɪər fəl /
ADJECTIVE
happy
Synonyms
STRONGEST
animated bright buoyant cheery chipper chirpy effervescent enthusiastic good-natured happy jaunty jolly joyful lighthearted lively merry optimistic peppy perky pleasant rosy sanguine sunny upbeat
WEAK
airy blithe bouncy bucked contented enlivening full of pep gay glad gladsome good-humored hearty high hilarious hopeful in good spirits in high spirits jocund roseate snappy sparkling sprightly up vivacious winsome zappy zingy zippy
Antonyms
STRONGEST
apathetic cloudy depressed depressing down dull gloomy heavy-hearted hopeless inactive lethargic lifeless not happy pale pessimistic sad serious sorrowful unenthusiastic unhappy upset
WEAK
cheerless grave heavy melancholy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"I'm just so grateful for the opportunities us girls have today!" one cheerful 15-year-old told me.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

“Let Me Roll It” had a funky swagger, while “Getting Better” chugged with cheerful insistence; “I’ve Just Seen a Face” showed off the group’s crisp harmonies and “Lady Madonna” its tight rhythmic interplay.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 28, 2026

While SK Hynix’s spending is a plus for its suppliers, it might not be so cheerful for rival Micron.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

And it turns out that there was something deeper going on—something that none of the cheerful messages around breastfeeding warned me about.

From Slate • Mar. 15, 2026

Fellow lodgers at his New York City boardinghouse worried as the typically cheerful, young Fairbanks grew gloomy and distracted.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock