lighthearted

adjective

light·​heart·​ed ˈlīt-ˌhär-təd 

1

: free from care, anxiety, or seriousness : happy-go-lucky

a lighthearted mood

2

: cheerfully optimistic and hopeful : easygoing

… they can be lighthearted in the midst of misery …

—H. J. Forman

lightheartedly adverb

lightheartedness noun

Synonyms of lighthearted

• nonchalant
• carefree
• casual
• relaxed
• cavalier

Examples of lighthearted in a Sentence

his lighthearted attitude in the face of danger was the source of some concern

Recent Examples on the Web

That lighthearted attitude is what endeared Wallace to Randolph before the teen even joined the team. — Caleb Otte, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2026

The weight of the world—the dismal news alerts, the rent bills, the doomscrolling—isn’t putting them in the mood for lighthearted banter or seductive dancing or organic inquisitiveness. — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026

Recently though, a few family members uploaded group photos including me to generate lighthearted/silly AI images. — R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 24 July 2026

The lighthearted post quickly took off, with viewers embracing the case of mistaken identity. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for lighthearted

• departed
• halfhearted
• imparted
• kindhearted
• restarted
• uncharted
• warmhearted
• wholehearted
• brokenhearted
• carted
• charted
• darted

Kids Definition

lighthearted

adjective

light·​heart·​ed -ˈhärt-əd 

: free from worry

lightheartedly adverb

lightheartedness noun