sweetness and light
noun
1
: a harmonious combination of beauty and enlightenment viewed as a hallmark of culture
2
a
: amiable reasonableness of disposition
they were all sweetness and light
b
: an untroubled or harmonious state or condition
but all was not sweetness and light
Examples of sweetness and light in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The grain whisky component adds silky sweetness and light caramel notes, maintaining the whiskey's balanced, approachable character.
—
Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Doubtless, that will be sweetness and light, too.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Certainly, there is not the faintest whiff of a waft of a suggestion that Novak was anything other than delightful to work with, the very incarnation of sweetness and light herself.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2025
Unfortunately, no matter how much her hemline communicated sweetness and light, Ryder was still found guilty and sentenced to 480 hours of community service, a $3,700 fine and 36 months of probation.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sweetness and light
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.
Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Doubtless, that will be sweetness and light, too.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Certainly, there is not the faintest whiff of a waft of a suggestion that Novak was anything other than delightful to work with, the very incarnation of sweetness and light herself.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2025
Unfortunately, no matter how much her hemline communicated sweetness and light, Ryder was still found guilty and sentenced to 480 hours of community service, a $3,700 fine and 36 months of probation.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sweetness and light
Cite this Entry
“Sweetness and light.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sweetness%20and%20light. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
