adjective

mirthful

/ˈmɜːrθfəl/ · say it: MER·thful

full of laughter and merriment

In Emotions & Moods

In more detail

1. (adjective) full of joy, laughter, and happiness

2. (adjective) showing or expressing happiness in a lighthearted way

Examples

1. The children's mirthful laughter echoed through the playground.
2. She gave a mirthful smile as she told the funny story.

How to use mirthful

Mirthful is a somewhat literary or formal adjective describing someone or something characterized by genuine joy and laughter. It carries a warmer, more wholesome tone than cheerful and often suggests uninhibited or exuberant happiness, though it can sound slightly old-fashioned in casual modern speech.

Common phrases

mirthful laughter
mirthful mood
mirthful spirit
mirthful expression
mirthful occasion

Synonyms

cheerful · joyful · gleeful · jovial · merry

Opposites

sorrowful · gloomy · morose

Word family

mirth (noun) · mirthfully (adverb)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse mirthful with mirth (the noun for joy or laughter itself); mirthful is the adjective form and should modify people or their expressions, not stand alone as an emotion.

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