Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The state or quality of being cheerful. A state of moderate joy or gaiety.
  • noun Alacrity; readiness; geniality.
  • noun Synonyms Mirth, Cheerfulness, etc. See mirth.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun Good spirits; a state of moderate joy or gayety; alacrity.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The state of being cheerful; joy.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a feeling of spontaneous good spirits
  • noun the quality of being cheerful and dispelling gloom

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

cheerful +‎ -ness

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word cheerfulness.

Examples

  • You assume, in your essay, that cheerfulness is a good thing.

    Nietzsche the Pantheist? | Heretical Ideas Magazine 2009

  • A imee Mann wrote this in the New York Times a couple of weeks ago: Paul McCartney's relentless cheerfulness is depressing.

    Is That Legal?: June 2007 Archives 2007

  • A imee Mann wrote this in the New York Times a couple of weeks ago: Paul McCartney's relentless cheerfulness is depressing.

    Is That Legal?: Macca Treacle 2007

  • A imee Mann wrote this in the New York Times a couple of weeks ago: Paul McCartney's relentless cheerfulness is depressing.

    Is That Legal?: Music Archives 2006

  • Wilder's Wonka had the basic cheerfulness from the book, but was more languid; Willy Wonka on 'ludes.

    MOVIE REVIEW: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 2005

  • These disasters were enough to discourage anyone, but the cheerful bearing of the Commander was an example to all of us-for cheerfulness is the key-note of success in moments like these.

    With Shackleton to the Antarctic 1910

  • We felt a great security while he was guiding our destinies, and worked on in cheerfulness and in hope.

    A Memorial Discourse on the Character of Abraham Lincoln 1865

  • I am sure the removal of these trees will make the general appearance of the house increase in cheerfulness; and I can now only recommend you strongly to take care that your rooms are well ventilated, by the windows being always opened in fine weather, whenever the rooms are unoccupied, for, I repeat, though you laughed at my former assertion, that a free circulation of air is essential both to health and happiness.

    The Lady's Country Companion: or, How to Enjoy a Country Life Rationally Jane 1845

  • This cheerfulness is the opposite of the marvellous “naivete” of the older Greeks, which we must see, in accordance with its given characteristics, as the flowering of Apollonian culture, blossoming out of a dark abyss, as the victory over suffering and the wisdom of suffering, which the Hellenic will gains through its ability to mirror beauty.’

    Nietzsche the Pantheist? | Heretical Ideas Magazine 2009

  • Just in the course of that one scene, he managed to show that Stacey never calls anyone by their name (she says “the big guy” in lieu of “Chewbacca”), and I loved Han’s inner monologue about how her cheerfulness is even more annoying than Luke’s.

    News: Pink Five Cameos In New Star Wars Novel | Fan Cinema Today 2007

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.