Cheerful — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈchir-fəl/ cheer·ful

Meaning & Definition of Cheerful

Cheerful (adjective)

  1. full of good spirits, merry
  2. ungrudging
  3. conducive to cheer, likely to dispel gloom or worry

Cheerful (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having or showing a good mood or disposition

    "a cheerful person who is always fun to work with and a pleasure to be around"

    similar: blithe, blithesome, bright, buoyant, canty (British dialect), cheery, chipper, eupeptic, gay, gladsome, lightsome, sunny, upbeat, winsome
    related: hopeful, optimistic, rosy, sanguine, animated, chirpy, jaunty, lilting, lively, perky, sprightful, sprightly, vivacious, carefree, careless, cavalier, devil-may-care, easygoing, happy-go-lucky, insouciant, lighthearted, unconcerned, boon, gleeful, jocund, jolly, jovial, merry, mirthful, blissful, delighted, glad, gratified, happy, joyful, joyous, pleased, satisfied, tickled, beaming, grinning, laughing, smiling
    opposite: dour, gloomy, glum, morose, saturnine, sulky, sullen
    near: joyless, sad, unhappy, unsatisfied, dull, lethargic, listless, sluggish, torpid, blue, brokenhearted, crestfallen, dejected, depressed, despondent, disconsolate, disheartened, down, downcast, downhearted, droopy, forlorn, hangdog, heavyhearted, inconsolable, low, low-spirited, melancholy, mirthless, sorrowful

  2. serving to lift one's spirits

    "a hospital with sunny, cheerful rooms that are designed to make a patient's stay as pleasant as possible"

    similar: bright, cheering, cheery, gay, glad
    related: gladdening, heartening, heartwarming, gleaming, radiant, sparkling
    opposite: bleak, cheerless, dark, depressing, dismal, dreary, gloomy, gray
    near: discouraging, disheartening, colorless, drab, dull, lackluster, lusterless, black, desolate, dispiriting

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Cheerful

The most common words with a similar meaning to Cheerful:

British dialect: canty
blithe, blithesome, bright, buoyant, cheery, chipper, eupeptic, gay, gladsome, lightsome, sunny, upbeat, winsome, cheering, glad

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Cheerful

Words with the opposite meaning of Cheerful:

dour, gloomy, glum, morose, saturnine, sulky, sullen, bleak, cheerless, dark, depressing, dismal, dreary, gray

Related Words for Cheerful

hopeful, optimistic, rosy, sanguine, animated, chirpy, jaunty, lilting, lively, perky, sprightful, sprightly, vivacious, carefree, careless, cavalier, devil-may-care, easygoing, happy-go-lucky, insouciant, lighthearted, unconcerned, boon, gleeful, jocund, jolly, jovial, merry, mirthful, blissful

Near Antonyms of Cheerful

joyless, sad, unhappy, unsatisfied, dull, lethargic, listless, sluggish, torpid, blue, brokenhearted, crestfallen, dejected, depressed, despondent, disconsolate, disheartened, down, downcast, downhearted, droopy, forlorn, hangdog, heavyhearted, inconsolable, low, low-spirited, melancholy, mirthless, sorrowful

Word Forms of Cheerful

Derived words: cheerfully (adverb), cheerfulness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Cheerful

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Cheerful

  • Topics: Feelings & Emotions

Frequently Asked Questions about Cheerful

What does "Cheerful" mean?

"Cheerful" means full of good spirits, merry. As an adjective, it is defined as: full of good spirits, merry. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Cheerful"?

Other words for "Cheerful" include blithe, blithesome, bright, buoyant, canty, cheery, chipper and eupeptic. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Cheerful" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Cheerful"?

There are 64 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Cheerful". Common alternatives include blithe, blithesome, bright, buoyant, canty, cheery, chipper, eupeptic, gay and gladsome.

What is the opposite of "Cheerful"?

Antonyms of "Cheerful" include dour, gloomy, glum, morose, saturnine, sulky, sullen and bleak. Near antonyms include joyless, sad, unhappy and unsatisfied.

How do you use "Cheerful" in a sentence?

Examples of "Cheerful" in a sentence: "a cheerful person who is always fun to work with and a pleasure to be around"; "a hospital with sunny, cheerful rooms that are designed to make a patient's stay as pleasant as possible".

Is "Cheerful" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Cheerful" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Cheerful"?

"Cheerful" is pronounced /ˈchir-fəl/ and divided into syllables as cheer·ful.

What is the origin of the word "Cheerful"?

First known use: 15th century.