You use blithe to indicate that something is done casually, without serious or careful thought.
[disapproval]
It does so with blithe disregard for best scientific practice.
Synonyms: heedless, casual, rash, reckless More Synonyms of blithe
blithelyadverb [ADVERB with verb, ADVERB adjective]
Your editorial blithely ignores the hard facts.
He appears blithely unaware of the disastrous effects of the new system.
2. graded adjective
Someone who is blithe is cheerful and has no serious problems.
[literary]
She said 'hi' with the blithe assurance of someone who knew how much she'd been missed.
More Synonyms of blithe
blithe in British English
(blaɪð)
adjective
1.
very happy or cheerful
2.
heedless; casual and indifferent
Derived forms
blithely (ˈblithely)
adverb
blitheness (ˈblitheness)
noun
Word origin
Old English blīthe
blithe in American English
(blaɪð; blaɪθ)
adjective
showing a cheerful, carefree disposition; lighthearted
Derived forms
blithely (ˈblithely)
adverb
blitheness (ˈblitheness)
noun
Word origin
ME < OE; ult. < IE base *bhlei-, to shine, gleam
Examples of 'blithe' in a sentence
blithe
They all regard us with blithe indifference.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
His critics say he made things up as he went along and had a blithe disregard for protocol.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It seems to me we are far too blithe about young women's anxieties.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In Britain there seemed a blithe lack of concern.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The audience is young and blithe and the setting gloomily pompous: that combination works better than any comedy club.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It's only that blithe and stubborn optimism that leaves each side convinced they'll beat the odds.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There, it has come to seem ridiculously blithe, ignoring the block that the political crisis puts on all but rudimentary commercial life.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Such a contrast to the generation that came before, with their big ideas, their insatiable appetites and their blithe disregard for the rest of the world.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
blithe
British English: blithe ADJECTIVE
You use blithe to indicate that something is done casually, without serious or careful thought.
On closer inspection, her optimism wasn't as blithe as it appears.
American English: blithe
Brazilian Portuguese: despreocupado
Chinese: 漫不经心的
European Spanish: despreocupado
French: naïf
German: unbekümmert
Italian: spensierato
Japanese: 軽率な
Korean: 심상한
European Portuguese: despreocupado
Latin American Spanish: despreocupado
1 (adjective)
Definition
heedless
It does so with blithe disregard for best scientific practice.
Synonyms
heedless
She scattered the letters about in her heedless haste.
casual
an easy-going young man with a casual approach to life
rash
Don't do anything rash until the feelings subside.
reckless
He is charged with causing death by reckless driving.
indifferent
People have become indifferent to the suffering of others.
careless
Office workers are notoriously careless about their passwords.
oblivious
She appeared oblivious to her surroundings.
negligent
The jury ruled that the Council had acted in a negligent manner.
unconcerned
Paul was unconcerned about what he had done.
untroubled
She remained untroubled by the reports.
thoughtless
It was thoughtless of her to mention it.
nonchalant
Denis tried unsuccessfully to look nonchalant and uninterested.
unthinking
Bruce was no unthinking vandal.
imprudent
an imprudent investment he made many years ago
neglectful
Children who are neglected tend to become neglectful parents.
incautious
In case you think I was incautious, take a look at the map.
unmindful
Opposites
concerned
,
thoughtful
2 (adjective)
Definition
very happy or cheerful
His spirit was anything but blithe below the surface.
Synonyms
happy
We have a very happy marriage.
sunny
The staff wear big sunny smiles.
cheerful
They are both very cheerful in spite of their circumstances.
merry
He was much loved for his merry nature.
upbeat (informal)
Neil's colleagues say he was actually in a joking, upbeat mood.
buoyant
She was in a buoyant mood.
airy
He sailed past, giving them an airy wave of the hand.
cheery
He is loved by everyone for his cheery disposition and sense of humour.
carefree
She remembered her years of carefree youth.
breezy
his bright and breezy personality
genial
He was a warm-hearted friend and a genial host.
jaunty
The novel is altogether jauntier than these quotations imply.
chirpy (informal)
You're very chirpy today - have you won the lottery or something?
untroubled
happy-go-lucky
She was a happy-go-lucky girl, always laughing and joking.
gay
I am in good health, gay and cheerful.
debonair
insouciant
He worked with insouciant disregard for convention.
mirthful
She revelled in the mirthful music of her children's laughter.
light-hearted
They were light-hearted and prepared to enjoy life.
gladsome (archaic)
Opposites
sad
,
depressed
,
unhappy
,
gloomy
,
melancholy
,
dejected
,
morose
Additional synonyms
in the sense of airy
Definition
light-hearted and casual
He sailed past, giving them an airy wave of the hand.