1
as in slightness
the state or quality of having little weight
the first thing I noticed about the little bird was its lightness; I could hardly tell I was holding it in my hand
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cheerfulness
a lack of seriousness often at an improper time
the inappropriate lightness of the anchorman's tone while he was reading the story of the freak accident in which people had died
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in brightness
the quality or state of having or giving off light
the photographer was concerned that the lightness of the background would cast the main subject into shadow
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lightness
Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 4 June 2026
Seashell earrings add a lightness to a look while still making a statement.
—Lidia Maseres, Glamour, 3 June 2026
There are tons of spa treatments, all on the affordable side, ranging from an abdominal relaxation ritual for digestive lightness to cranial drainage for migraine relief.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026
Cotton adds lightness and softness to the mix, while semi-synthetic rayon gives the material an effortless drape.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for lightness
Noun
The shoes are complete and held in place with a slender, adjustable ankle straps that frame the foot with lightness, while two smaller straps wrap around the back of the foot, holding the shoes in place.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 4 June 2026
Seashell earrings add a lightness to a look while still making a statement.
—Lidia Maseres, Glamour, 3 June 2026
There are tons of spa treatments, all on the affordable side, ranging from an abdominal relaxation ritual for digestive lightness to cranial drainage for migraine relief.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026
Cotton adds lightness and softness to the mix, while semi-synthetic rayon gives the material an effortless drape.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for lightness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightness
Noun
-
The researchers placed the micro satellite on a magnetic levitation platform – essentially a MagLev track that mimics the weightlessness of space – and fired the thrusters remotely at varying voltage levels, watching the satellite spin like a slow-motion top.—
Omar Kardoudi
June 05,
New Atlas,
5 June 2026
-
Previous Virgin Galactic missions have lasted more than an hour from takeoff to touchdown, but passengers typically only have a few minutes to see Earth from space while experiencing a few minutes of weightlessness.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Wine-Coca conduces to mental activity and clearness, prevents fatigue and exhaustion, brings cheerfulness and sweet refreshing sleep.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
29 May 2026
-
This kind of optimism and cheerfulness can make leaders more empathetic and pleasant to work with, partly because psychology research finds that positive moods increase helping, generosity and interpersonal understanding.—
Aditya Simha,
The Conversation,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Buyers can choose between the LCD and OLED models, with the latter offering higher peak brightness in HDR mode (900 nits versus 600 nits), but both support 120Hz refresh rates.—
Jon Martindale,
PC Magazine,
16 June 2026
-
The screens offer higher frame rates, greater brightness, deeper blacks and superior contrast ratios compared with conventional digital projectors.—
Marcus Lim,
Variety,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Ideas expressed in the piece The article argues that the glee over Tom Steyer’s loss in the California governor’s race reflects a broader, understandable anger at extreme wealth in an era of serf‑lord–level inequality, but contends that this anger is being misdirected at the wrong billionaire.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
-
As the base runners scampered home, tying the game, Chicago players and fans alike shrieked with glee.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
The result is an incredible repository of vexations, bafflements, witticisms, and brilliancies.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
So, astronomers have come up with a compromise regarding the geometry of the sun's illumination angle on Venus' disk versus its distance from Earth to determine the time of Venus' greatest brilliancy.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Scenes of Cameron trauma-bonding with peers Jane Fonda (Sasha Lane) and Adam Red Eagle (Forrest Goodluck) add some levity, but Cameron Post succeeds in its aim to haunt.—
Rachel Simon,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
-
There were serious moments and there was levity, sometimes almost simultaneously.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
That England avoided what would have been an embarrassing last-sixteen exit to Slovakia was thanks mostly to the individual brilliance of Jude Bellingham, its attacking prodigy, who scissored in an acrobatic finish at the death.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
18 June 2026
-
Your dazzling brilliance and unpretentious decency.—
Scott Bauer,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
But what pushed the situation from the realm of silliness to sinister was a US operation to seize Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife from their home in Caracas on January 3, 2026.—
Joshua Hunt,
Vanity Fair,
17 June 2026
-
On one hand, this is silliness; Swift barely even lived here.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lightness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightness. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
