Definitions

jovial

[joh-vee-uhl] / ˈdʒoʊ vi əl /

ADJECTIVE

happy

Synonyms

STRONGEST

affable amiable buoyant cheery chipper convivial cordial festive good-natured jolly lighthearted pleasant sociable

WEAK

airy animated bantering blithe blithesome bouncy chaffing chirpy companionable conversable daffy delightful dizzy enjoyable facetious festal gay glad gleeful hilarious humorous jocose jocund jokey jollying joshing jubilant larking loony lots of laughs merry mirthful nutty off-the-wall

Antonyms

STRONGEST

depressed disagreeable gloomy hateful heavy-hearted mean surly unfriendly unhappy unpleasant unsociable

WEAK

sad

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.

Everyone seemed jovial, leaving me to glare at my reflection in the dark train window, between stations, wondering what exactly my deal was.

From Salon • Jun. 18, 2026

As mentioned, Mr. Eberhardt is so captivating as the jovial, word-drunk Mercutio that he draws our attention whenever he’s onstage.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026

Live images streamed before the leaders arrived showed a jovial atmosphere, with several among the top brass of China's ruling Communist Party seen chatting and smiling with members of Trump's administration.

From Barron's • May 14, 2026

The jovial royal believes he can persuade Jerry to change course.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026

It sounded almost jovial, as if they’d been playing hide and seek.

From "We'll Fly Away" by Bryan Bliss

Vocabulary lists containing jovial

The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 2

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Words to Capture Your Joy

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!