Meaning & use
merriments
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“merriments” is a form of “merriment”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
nounpluralliteraryrare
Plural of merriment: occasions or outbursts of cheerful laughter and enjoyment.
Grammar: Plural and unusual; merriment is normally uncountable.
Patterns
- the merriments of something
The old novel described the merriments of the village fair.
Winter nights were filled with songs, dances and other merriments.
He remembered the childhood merriments of the harvest festival.
Common combinations
- festive merriments
- The festive merriments lasted until dawn.
- holiday merriments
- They joined the holiday merriments in the square.
- the merriments of Christmas
- The poem celebrates the merriments of Christmas.
- join the merriments
- Guests were invited to join the merriments.
Synonyms and how they differ
- festivities
- Festivities is the usual plural for celebrations and is more natural today.
- revels
- Revels suggests noisy, wild party-making, which is stronger than merriments.
- celebrations
- Celebrations is neutral and does not carry the old-fashioned flavor of merriments.
- jollities
- Jollities is similarly dated and plural, but it stresses fun and games.
Opposites
Word family
- merriment noun
- cheerful fun and laughter
- merry adjective
- cheerful and lively
- merrily adverb
- in a cheerful way
- merrymaking noun
- festive celebrating
Commonly confused: merriments or merits?
merriments vs merits
Merits are good qualities, and they have no link to festive fun despite the similar look.
Practice
Which word is the usual uncountable singular of merriments?
Choose one answer.
Merriment is the standard noun, from merry. Merriness is a rare form and not what dictionaries list as the base.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “merriments”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.