jollying
Teasing someone along
Jollying is the act of keeping someone in good spirits through cheerful encouragement or light flattery, often to maintain cooperation or smooth over difficulties: She spent the morning jollying the nervous client along.
The word suggests gentle persuasion rather than serious effort—coaxing someone into a better mood or toward compliance.
Persuading through flattery
- wheedlingPersuading through flattery
- persuadingInducing belief or action
- encouragingGiving confidence or hope
- coaxingPersuading through gentle persistence
urging · sweet-talking · flattering · buttering up · nudging · prodding · enticing · charming
Affectionate verbal teasing
- kiddingTeasing playfully
- joshingPlayful mocking
- banteringLight, playful teasing
- raggingMocking someone persistently
chaffing · needling · razzing · twitting · poking fun · good-natured · raillery · leg-pulling
Growing happier after sadness
- hearteningInspiring confidence or cheer
- brighteningIncreasing in light
- upliftingEmotionally encouraging
- buoyingKeeping from sinking
enlivening · gladdening · boosting · rallying · encouraging · comforting · reassuring · perking up
Lively, uninhibited celebration
- frolickingLighthearted energetic movement
- carousingBoisterous drinking spree
- celebratingObserving with festivity
- partyingSocial revelry in progress
romping · larking · skylarking · gallivanting · cavorting · rollicking · festivity · high spirits
cajoling
Persuading through flattery
- wheedlingPersuading through flattery
- persuadingInducing belief or action
- encouragingGiving confidence or hope
coaxing · urging · sweet-talking · flattering · buttering up · nudging · prodding · enticing · charming · winning over
ribbing
Affectionate verbal teasing
ragging · chaffing · needling · razzing · twitting · poking fun · good-natured · raillery · leg-pulling · goading
cheering up
Growing happier after sadness
- hearteningInspiring confidence or cheer
- brighteningIncreasing in light
- upliftingEmotionally encouraging
buoying · enlivening · gladdening · boosting · rallying · encouraging · comforting · reassuring · perking up · livening
reveling
Lively, uninhibited celebration
- frolickingLighthearted energetic movement
- carousingBoisterous drinking spree
- celebratingObserving with festivity
partying · romping · larking · skylarking · gallivanting · cavorting · rollicking · festivity · high spirits · merriment
jollyingscolding
Harsh verbal criticism
berating · chastising · criticizing · reproaching · admonishing
jollyingdiscouraging
Causing loss of confidence
disheartening · depressing · demoralizing · dispiriting · deflating
joyful, jolly, joyous, jollity, jolliness, jollies, joylessly, jollied, jolliest