Jolly vs Merry - What's the Difference?

Jolly

Merry

Definitions

Definition as Noun
  • a happy party
  • a yawl used by a ship's sailors for general work
Definition as Noun
Definition as Verb
  • be silly or tease one another
Definition as Verb
Definition as Adjective
  • full of or showing high-spirited merriment
Definition as Adjective
  • quick and energetic
  • full of or showing high-spirited merriment
  • offering fun and gaiety
Definition as Adverb
  • to certain extent or degree
Definition as Adverb

Examples

  • "when hearts were young and gay"; "a poet could not but be gay, in such a jocund company"- Wordsworth; "the jolly crowd at the reunion"; "jolly old Saint Nick"; "a jovial old gentleman"; "have a merry Christmas"; "peals of merry laughter"; "a mirthful laugh"
  • "pretty big"; "pretty bad"; "jolly decent of him"; "the shoes are priced reasonably"; "he is fairly clever with computers"
  • "After we relaxed, we just kidded around"
  • "a brisk walk in the park"; "a lively gait"; "a merry chase"; "traveling at a rattling rate"; "a snappy pace"; "a spanking breeze"
  • "when hearts were young and gay"; "a poet could not but be gay, in such a jocund company"- Wordsworth; "the jolly crowd at the reunion"; "jolly old Saint Nick"; "a jovial old gentleman"; "have a merry Christmas"; "peals of merry laughter"; "a mirthful laugh"
  • "a festive (or festal) occasion"; "gay and exciting night life"; "a merry evening"

Parts of Speech

Adjective, Adverb, Noun, Verb
Adjective