as in abandon
carefree freedom from constraint
he approaches his medical duties with a lightheartedness that some patients find disturbing
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Recent Examples of lightheartedness
In a film that nimbly walks the tightrope between lightheartedness and weightlessness, Jerry and Mabel’s antagonistic relationship ends up proving the unexpected core of the story.
—
Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 2 Mar. 2026
Hundreds of fans commented on social media, either expressing concern or responding with lightheartedness.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 4 Dec. 2025
On the plus side, the young acting talent and a welcome lightheartedness will keep the eye-rolling to a minimum.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
Using a similar method as the one scientists follow to determine the animals responsible for fossilized footprints — but with a dose of lightheartedness — Granatosky and his colleagues carried out the first scientific analysis of the imprint, published Tuesday in the journal Biology Letters.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
Quick-witted, effortlessly funny, DePaul brought a lightheartedness to the table during a particularly dark point in the story.
—Dana Reboe, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025
Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 2 Mar. 2026
Hundreds of fans commented on social media, either expressing concern or responding with lightheartedness.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 4 Dec. 2025
On the plus side, the young acting talent and a welcome lightheartedness will keep the eye-rolling to a minimum.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
Using a similar method as the one scientists follow to determine the animals responsible for fossilized footprints — but with a dose of lightheartedness — Granatosky and his colleagues carried out the first scientific analysis of the imprint, published Tuesday in the journal Biology Letters.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
Quick-witted, effortlessly funny, DePaul brought a lightheartedness to the table during a particularly dark point in the story.
—Dana Reboe, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightheartedness
Noun
-
The gains were most pronounced among low-income students, the population that critics argue school choice abandons.—
Tommy Schultz,
Boston Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Loose, gestural ink drawings sit alongside still lifes of treasured objects, flea market finds are arranged like miniature stage sets, and candid snapshots of her Milan existence are collaged with painterly abandon.—
Lilah Ramzi,
Vogue,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The slightly distressed finish of brown sneakers adds naturalness and ease that pairs harmoniously with the low profile of baggy jeans.—
Alex Sales,
Glamour,
8 Mar. 2026
-
In 1995, Taschen published his first book, which made a stir with portraits of soft, indirect illumination, emphasizing naturalness.—
Steve Appleford,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Perez is now being charged with animal cruelty and animal abandonment.—
Patrick Damp,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
In lieu of confronting her mother about the reason for her abandonment, Taparjan works with actors.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Play-by-play man Eric Collins finally has a team worthy of his enthusiasm.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Mar. 2026
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Brimming with enthusiasm, the presenter told them that Gemini can handle 80% to 90% of the work of writing regulations, while DOT staffers could do the rest, one attendee recalled the presenter saying.—
Jesse Coburn,
ProPublica,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Concentration helps your spontaneity deliver something memorable.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Shires and Jeffries did their best to capture the spontaneity that can come from those situations.—
Josh Crutchmer,
Rolling Stone,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Diane Keaton offered warmth and modeled how to stay human amid fame.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
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When rains and warmth arrive, the endosperm digests itself and shunts food to the growing seedling.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But Kornev is young and infused with an idealistic zeal, refusing to let these goons stonewall him.—
Tim Grierson,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
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In Reflections on the Revolution in France, his most famous work, Burke warned about the dangers of a revolutionary zeal aimed at completely redesigning a civilization.—
Peter Wehner,
The Atlantic,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Missile exchanges have jarred with the spirit of the holidays underway across the region.—
Siham Shamalakh,
Washington Post,
22 Mar. 2026
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Waddle is a diminutive deity in Texas, where whispers of his spirit twist across baseball diamonds and basketball courts and football fields from Bellaire to the Woodlands to Dallas.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lightheartedness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightheartedness. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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