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

Larry Herd, who traveled from West Virginia, came to watch his granddaughter compete for the University of Virginia and shared a lighthearted moment about the team's run. —Conor McGill, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026

Trump's visit to Memphis brings lighthearted end at Graceland, John Beifuss reports in this story. —Mark Russell, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 28 Mar. 2026

The sheer amount of dim-witted gangsters running around, with names like Dumbass Tony and Roid Rage Ryan, also keep the narrative lighthearted and just bizarre enough. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026

If, like the original, the protagonist wakes up as a 30-year-old in today’s modern world, some worry the flick won’t be as lighthearted as the original. —Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 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