festive

[fes-tiv] / ˈfɛs tɪv /

ADJECTIVE

decorated, celebratory

Synonyms

STRONGEST

cheery chipper convivial gala happy hearty jovial joyful joyous jubilant lighthearted merry peppy upbeat

WEAK

blithe bouncy carnival carnivalesque chirpy festal gay gleeful go-go grooving holiday jocund jolly juiced up jumping mirthful perky rocking snappy swinging zippy

Antonyms

STRONGEST

apathetic depressed lethargic miserable sad serious sorrowful troubled unhappy upset

WEAK

gloomy somber undecorated

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.

On 16 December 1965, to celebrate the first successful space rendezvous, astronauts Thomas Stafford and Wally Schirra surprised mission control with a little festive spirit.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

Then in the spirit of springtime renewal, thought-provoking plays like “John Proctor Is the Villain” and “Fences” will leave audiences in contemplation before festive summer item “Boop! The Musical” swoops in to lift spirits.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 29, 2026

She came to Seoul just to soak up the festive vibes and potentially catch a glimpse somehow of the band from afar.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

After taking a train home to her native Hebei province, Beijing resident Hua Lei told AFP she would observe a subdued festive season.

From Barron's • Mar. 4, 2026

Any hound that got snappy with Bertha was promptly corrected, and the pack of yowling beagles provided a noisy but festive escort back to the POE.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

Vocabulary lists containing festive

Joy To The Word: Christmas Terms

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Emotions on Display

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The Help

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