jovial
adjective
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Jovial and Birth Dates
In Roman astrology, planets were named after gods, and people were thought to share the personality traits of the god whose planet was rising when they were born. Jupiter, also called Jove, was the chief Roman god and was considered a majestic type who was the source of joy and happiness. The Latin adjective jovialis means "of or relating to Jove." In French, this had become jovial, which English borrowed and used to describe people and things full of cheer or joy.
Synonyms
- blithe
- blithesome
- festive
- gay
- gleeful
- jocose
- jocular
- jocund
- jolly
- laughing
- merry
- mirthful
- sunny
Example Sentences
Zadie Smith, White Teeth, 2001 I felt I was slumming, in my own life. My task was to ward off the drivel … the jovial claptrap of classmates and teachers, the maddening bromides I heard at home. Susan Sontag, New Yorker, 21 Dec. 1987 For, the people who were shovelling away on the housetops were jovial and full of glee; calling out to one another from the parapets, and now and then exchanging a facetious snowball … Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, 1843 The audience was in a jovial mood. He's a very jovial man. Robyn Dixon, Washington Post, 2 Aug. 2022 All of them were very jovial or funny, always quick with a story or impression. Nick Alvarez | Nalvarez@al.com, al, 4 Aug. 2022 The jovial owner, called Jupe, has also had some contact with the U.F.O. and is also trying to profit from it, indifferent to the risks involved. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 25 July 2022 Every week, 88-year-old Stephen Straus filled the seat with his jovial personality, making fast friends with strangers at the fixture in Highland Park, Illinois. Holly Yan, CNN, 10 July 2022 Any claims some Republicans have made that the attack was really just a jovial tourist visit have been dashed. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 7 July 2022 In Season 3, the Duffer Brothers killed off Alexei, a jovial Russian who was trying to help Hopper, Joyce and Murray stop the bad guys. Erik Kain, Forbes, 6 July 2022 Some of the participants, like Misba Khan, a jovial Pakistani-British mother and Muslim chaplain, have zero experience in such endeavors; but her compassion and sense of humor prove a key to the mission’s success. Peter Keough, BostonGlobe.com, 16 June 2022 Vulcan and Vesta, The World Games mascots, milled about in jovial silence, waving, hugging people, and shaking hands. al, 4 June 2022 See More Word History
1592, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Kids Definition
jovial
adjective
jovial
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- jolly
- merry
- festive
- cheerful
- jocular
- mirthful
- witty
- laughing
- gleeful
- jocose
- lively
- funny
- joyful
- jocund
- humorous
- playful
- amused
- sunny
- happy
- smiling
- blithe
- amusing
- blithesome
- bright
- spirited
- lighthearted
- upbeat
- cheery
- joking
- delighted
- joyous
- gay
- carefree
- exuberant
- vivacious
- giggling
- buoyant
- jubilant
- chuckling
- animated
- easygoing
- perky
- ecstatic
- chipper
- optimistic
- sprightly
- peppy
- jesting
- exultant
- flippant
- blissful
- jaunty
- beaming
- frisky
- hilarious
- euphoric
- rapturous
- comical
- elated
- joshing
- lightsome
- frolicsome
- facetious
- exhilarated
- gladsome
- happy-go-lucky
- enraptured
- zippy
- thrilled
- sportive
- radiant
- overjoyed
- insouciant
- hopeful
- unconcerned
- sanguine
- cavalier
- bouncing
- tickled
- uproarious
- blessed
- riotous
- rosy
- high
- antic
- farcical
- entranced
- comic
- ravished
- sprightful
- devil-may-care
- blest
- sidesplitting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- glum
- melancholy
- sad
- sorrowful
- unhappy
- dejected
- downcast
- blue
- anguished
- forlorn
- aggrieved
- dispirited
- disconsolate
- depressed
- despondent
- crestfallen
- abject
- lugubrious
- moody
- heartbroken
- downhearted
- saddened
- disgruntled
- mournful
- somber
- crying
- heartsick
- doleful
- disheartened
- sombre
- sullen
- discontented
- morose
- wailing
- gloomy
- weeping
- brokenhearted
- heavyhearted
- glum
- joyless
- sobbing
- saturnine
- plaintive
- cheerless
- dark
- moaning
- dolorous
- low-spirited
- lachrymose
- bleak
- black
- gray
- grey
- dreary
- sorry
- woeful
- dismal
- depressing
- miserable
- desolate
- groaning
- woebegone
- sluggish
- dull
- comfortless
- lethargic
- wretched
- listless
- torpid
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of jovial are blithe, jocund, jolly, and merry. While all these words mean "showing high spirits or lightheartedness," jovial suggests the stimulation of conviviality and good fellowship.
Although the words blithe and jovial have much in common, blithe suggests carefree, innocent, or even heedless gaiety.
The synonyms jocund and jovial are sometimes interchangeable, but jocund stresses elation and exhilaration of spirits.
The words jolly and jovial can be used in similar contexts, but jolly suggests high spirits expressed in laughing, bantering, and jesting.
In some situations, the words merry and jovial are roughly equivalent. However, merry suggests cheerful, joyous, uninhibited enjoyment of frolic or festivity.