blithe
adjective
ˈblīth 
ˈblīt͟h
ˈblīt͟h blither; blithest
1
: lacking due thought or consideration : casual, heedless
blithe unconcern
a blithe disregard for the rights of others
2
: of a happy lighthearted character or disposition
a blithe spirit
blithe enjoyment
blithely adverb
Synonyms
- blithesome
- bright
- buoyant
- canty [British dialect]
- cheerful
- cheery
- chipper
- eupeptic
- gay
- gladsome
- lightsome
- sunny
- upbeat
- winsome
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He showed blithe disregard for the rights of others. He was blithe about the risks to his health.
Recent Examples on the Web Not for Bellocchio a blithe dismissal of religious belief as an obvious and antiquated folly, unworthy of our consideration. 
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 15 July 2022 Indira Varma is gloriously blithe and effortless as the selfish actress and mother-from-hell, Arkadina. David Benedict, Variety, 8 July 2022 Emerald’s dancing is juxtaposed with shots of a sinister force skulking outside the house: Emerald is oblivious, and Palmer grounds the moment by performing the opposite of gravitas, endowing her body with a blithe buoyancy. New York Times, 22 July 2022 The members grabbed their backpacks, gathered up half-empty bags of chips and some clementine peels to use as compost, and alighted into a blare of car horns and the blithe clamor of a midtown Saturday night. Danyoung Kim, The New Yorker, 2 June 2022 Those who survived the plague are still scarred by their memories of it, while the blithe young adults around them can’t relate. The Salt Lake Tribune, 11 May 2022 What would, today, be dismissed as garish act of patriotism was somehow symbolic of the bold, blithe zeitgeist. CNN, 23 Feb. 2022 Sywak plans to purchase tickets this week for Tori Amos’ L.A. concerts in June and is taking a blithe approach. Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2022 Lost in the blithe tale of surviving one's youthful idiocy are all the subtleties of that process (as well as the one unsubtlety of it, that not everyone survives). Washington Post, 30 May 2021 See More
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 15 July 2022 Indira Varma is gloriously blithe and effortless as the selfish actress and mother-from-hell, Arkadina. David Benedict, Variety, 8 July 2022 Emerald’s dancing is juxtaposed with shots of a sinister force skulking outside the house: Emerald is oblivious, and Palmer grounds the moment by performing the opposite of gravitas, endowing her body with a blithe buoyancy. New York Times, 22 July 2022 The members grabbed their backpacks, gathered up half-empty bags of chips and some clementine peels to use as compost, and alighted into a blare of car horns and the blithe clamor of a midtown Saturday night. Danyoung Kim, The New Yorker, 2 June 2022 Those who survived the plague are still scarred by their memories of it, while the blithe young adults around them can’t relate. The Salt Lake Tribune, 11 May 2022 What would, today, be dismissed as garish act of patriotism was somehow symbolic of the bold, blithe zeitgeist. CNN, 23 Feb. 2022 Sywak plans to purchase tickets this week for Tori Amos’ L.A. concerts in June and is taking a blithe approach. Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2022 Lost in the blithe tale of surviving one's youthful idiocy are all the subtleties of that process (as well as the one unsubtlety of it, that not everyone survives). Washington Post, 30 May 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English blīthe; akin to Old High German blīdi joyous
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Kids Definition
blithe
adjective
ˈblīth
ˈblīt͟h
blither; blithest
: free from worry : merry, cheerful
She let out a quick, blithe laugh. Kevin Henkes, Olive's Ocean
Kevin Henkes, Olive's Oceanblithe
adjective
1
as in cheerful
having or showing a good mood or disposition a blithe, obedient child Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- cheerful
- optimistic
- bright
- cheery
- sunny
- buoyant
- blithesome
- upbeat
- chipper
- careless
- smiling
- gladsome
- merry
- lightsome
- winsome
- lively
- grinning
- joyful
- gay
- happy
- jaunty
- jolly
- canty
- delighted
- sanguine
- rosy
- insouciant
- chirpy
- carefree
- satisfied
- laughing
- lilting
- hopeful
- mirthful
- perky
- gleeful
- animated
- cavalier
- pleased
- jovial
- sprightly
- lighthearted
- joyous
- vivacious
- unconcerned
- jocund
- eupeptic
- blissful
- easygoing
- boon
- devil-may-care
- happy-go-lucky
- glad
- tickled
- beaming
- gratified
- sprightful
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sullen
- morose
- dour
- glum
- gloomy
- sulky
- saturnine
- sad
- joyless
- unhappy
- listless
- melancholy
- dull
- torpid
- unsatisfied
- sluggish
- mirthless
- disconsolate
- lethargic
- sorrowful
- downcast
- forlorn
- low
- hangdog
- crestfallen
- blue
- dejected
- depressed
- despondent
- inconsolable
- downhearted
- droopy
- down
- disheartened
- brokenhearted
- heavyhearted
- low-spirited
2
as in merry
indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor a blithe remark that good food enjoyed with good company makes good wine seem even better Synonyms & Similar Words
- merry
- jolly
- festive
- cheerful
- mirthful
- gleeful
- jovial
- jocund
- jocose
- jocular
- lively
- witty
- laughing
- blithesome
- sunny
- joyful
- funny
- amused
- playful
- happy
- smiling
- bright
- humorous
- amusing
- gay
- jaunty
- carefree
- spirited
- delighted
- cheery
- chuckling
- flippant
- buoyant
- exuberant
- joyous
- giggling
- lighthearted
- jubilant
- joking
- upbeat
- blissful
- chipper
- rapturous
- exultant
- perky
- insouciant
- animated
- lightsome
- beaming
- peppy
- ecstatic
- frolicsome
- sprightly
- vivacious
- zippy
- optimistic
- frisky
- gladsome
- euphoric
- radiant
- cavalier
- jesting
- facetious
- unconcerned
- bouncing
- enraptured
- sanguine
- joshing
- high
- easygoing
- elated
- rosy
- exhilarated
- tickled
- thrilled
- sportive
- hilarious
- comical
- overjoyed
- hopeful
- riotous
- entranced
- ravished
- farcical
- comic
- antic
- blessed
- uproarious
- devil-may-care
- blest
- happy-go-lucky
- sprightful
- sidesplitting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- melancholy
- abject
- glum
- disconsolate
- sorrowful
- sad
- anguished
- downcast
- forlorn
- unhappy
- crestfallen
- blue
- heartsick
- dispirited
- dejected
- aggrieved
- depressed
- mournful
- wailing
- lugubrious
- despondent
- weeping
- crying
- plaintive
- downhearted
- doleful
- disheartened
- sullen
- discontented
- heartbroken
- morose
- dolorous
- saddened
- joyless
- brokenhearted
- moody
- moaning
- lachrymose
- sobbing
- glum
- somber
- sombre
- woeful
- disgruntled
- gloomy
- cheerless
- bleak
- heavyhearted
- depressing
- dismal
- gray
- dark
- low-spirited
- dreary
- grey
- black
- saturnine
- desolate
- groaning
- woebegone
- sorry
- miserable
- wretched
- comfortless
- listless
- torpid
- dull
- sluggish
- lethargic
3
as in nonchalant
having or showing freedom from worries or troubles he has a blithe attitude about ever having to earn a living because he knows there's a trust fund in his future Synonyms & Similar Words
- nonchalant
- insouciant
- carefree
- cavalier
- lighthearted
- unconcerned
- slaphappy
- debonair
- lightsome
- relaxed
- blasé
- casual
- blase
- gay
- devil-may-care
- happy-go-lucky
- breezy
- informal
- easygoing
- unfussy
- laid-back
- low-pressure
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- careworn
- sombre
- somber
- earnest
- serious
- cautious
- grave
- careful
- wary
- heedful
- sorrowful
- anxious
- serious-minded
- upset
- worried
- concerned
- overburdened
- long-suffering
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of blithe are jocund, jolly, jovial, and merry. While all these words mean "showing high spirits or lightheartedness," blithe suggests carefree, innocent, or even heedless gaiety.
arrived late in his usual blithe way
The words jocund and blithe are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, jocund stresses elation and exhilaration of spirits.
singing, dancing, and jocund feasting
The meanings of jolly and blithe largely overlap; however, jolly suggests high spirits expressed in laughing, bantering, and jesting.
our jolly host enlivened the party
The synonyms jovial and blithe are sometimes interchangeable, but jovial suggests the stimulation of conviviality and good fellowship.
dinner put them in a jovial mood
Although the words merry and blithe have much in common, merry suggests cheerful, joyous, uninhibited enjoyment of frolic or festivity.
a merry group of revelers
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