Meaning & use
mirthful
Last updated
UK/ˈmɜːθfʊl/
US/ˈmɝːθfəl/
Meaning
adjectivecomparableliterary
Full of cheerful laughter and joy, or causing it.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after 'be': a mirthful laugh; the party was mirthful.
Patterns
- mirthful laughter
- mirthful at something
A mirthful laugh rippled through the room when the cat walked across the stage.
The wedding was a mirthful affair, with songs and dancing until midnight.
She had a mirthful twinkle in her eye whenever she told a story.
Word forms
| comparative | more mirthful |
|---|---|
| superlative | most mirthful |
Common combinations
- mirthful laughter
- Mirthful laughter drifted from the kitchen.
- mirthful smile
- He gave a mirthful smile as he read the card.
- mirthful eyes
- Her mirthful eyes gave away that she was teasing.
- mirthful gathering
- The old friends held a mirthful gathering every winter.
- mirthful tone
- His mirthful tone made the bad news easier to hear.
Synonyms and how they differ
- merry
- It is a warmer, more everyday word and is strongly linked to festive occasions like Christmas.
- jovial
- It describes a cheerful, friendly person, and it is more about personality than about laughter in a moment.
- gleeful
- It suggests delighted joy, sometimes at someone else's misfortune, so it can be more mischievous.
- jolly
- It is casual and slightly old-fashioned, and often paints a round, happy person.
Opposites
Word family
Practice
Which sentence best uses 'mirthful'?
Choose one answer.
'Mirthful' means full of cheerful laughter, so it suits children laughing in a garden. The other options pair it with grief, disappointment or silence, which clash with its meaning.
Make it your own
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