jocund
adjective
William Wordsworth 
Did you know?
The Tricky Etymology of Jocund
Don't let the etymology of jocund play tricks on you. The word comes from jucundus, a Latin word meaning "agreeable" or "delightful," and ultimately from the Latin verb juvare, meaning "to help." But jucundus looks and sounds a bit like jocus, the Latin word for "joke." These two roots took a lively romp through many centuries together and along the way the lighthearted jocus influenced the spelling and meaning of jucundus, an interaction that eventually resulted in our modern English word jocund in the 14th century.
Synonyms
- blithe
- blithesome
- festive
- gay
- gleeful
- jocose
- jocular
- jolly
- jovial
- laughing
- merry
- mirthful
- sunny
Example Sentences
Natasha Gural, Forbes, 29 May 2021 There’s a feeling of joy that comes with walking into Jovanina’s Broken Italian, a jocund eight-month-old eatery that’s part of LoDo’s recent restaurant renaissance. Daliah Singer, The Know, 6 Aug. 2019 Word History
Middle English, from Late Latin jocundus, alteration of Latin jucundus, from juvare to help
14th century, in the meaning defined above
jocund
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- merry
- jolly
- festive
- cheerful
- mirthful
- jovial
- jocose
- laughing
- gleeful
- lively
- jocular
- blithesome
- witty
- blithe
- joyful
- sunny
- funny
- amused
- happy
- playful
- humorous
- bright
- smiling
- amusing
- delighted
- gay
- spirited
- joyous
- cheery
- lightsome
- joking
- giggling
- carefree
- gladsome
- jesting
- lighthearted
- exuberant
- upbeat
- blissful
- exultant
- sprightly
- frolicsome
- jubilant
- buoyant
- chuckling
- animated
- jaunty
- rapturous
- perky
- ecstatic
- vivacious
- chipper
- frisky
- beaming
- sportive
- radiant
- enraptured
- euphoric
- peppy
- ravished
- flippant
- joshing
- blest
- hilarious
- exhilarated
- optimistic
- elated
- bouncing
- tickled
- rosy
- thrilled
- overjoyed
- facetious
- easygoing
- blessed
- uproarious
- insouciant
- unconcerned
- riotous
- antic
- high
- zippy
- hopeful
- comical
- sanguine
- cavalier
- entranced
- farcical
- comic
- happy-go-lucky
- sidesplitting
- sprightful
- devil-may-care
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- melancholy
- sorrowful
- sad
- unhappy
- glum
- forlorn
- disconsolate
- downcast
- blue
- anguished
- abject
- dejected
- dispirited
- despondent
- aggrieved
- depressed
- crestfallen
- heartsick
- downhearted
- doleful
- weeping
- mournful
- crying
- discontented
- dolorous
- saddened
- wailing
- brokenhearted
- lugubrious
- moody
- cheerless
- heartbroken
- disgruntled
- plaintive
- disheartened
- sullen
- sombre
- gloomy
- joyless
- heavyhearted
- somber
- moaning
- sobbing
- low-spirited
- woeful
- dark
- glum
- morose
- lachrymose
- gray
- saturnine
- dreary
- grey
- bleak
- dismal
- sorry
- black
- comfortless
- desolate
- groaning
- depressing
- miserable
- woebegone
- wretched
- dull
- torpid
- sluggish
- listless
- lethargic
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of jocund are blithe, jolly, jovial, and merry. While all these words mean "showing high spirits or lightheartedness," jocund stresses elation and exhilaration of spirits.
While in some cases nearly identical to jocund, blithe suggests carefree, innocent, or even heedless gaiety.
In some situations, the words jolly and jocund are roughly equivalent. However, jolly suggests high spirits expressed in laughing, bantering, and jesting.
The words jovial and jocund are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, jovial suggests the stimulation of conviviality and good fellowship.
The meanings of merry and jocund largely overlap; however, merry suggests cheerful, joyous, uninhibited enjoyment of frolic or festivity.