as in nonchalant
having or showing freedom from worries or trouble
his lighthearted attitude in the face of danger was the source of some concern
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in abandon
carefree freedom from constraint
he approaches his medical duties with a lightheartedness that some patients find disturbing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lighthearted
James Brooks, Fortune, 19 Jan. 2026
That the first 28 Years Later ended its somber meditation on grief with a scene of Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell) and his acolytes doing Power Rangers moves on a horde of the infected suggested that the next movie would be a more lighthearted affair.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 15 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for lighthearted
Adjective
Wearing one of the spoof hats, protester Kristian Boye, 49, said the gathering in front of Copenhagen City Hall struck a lighthearted tone while delivering a serious message.
—James Brooks, Fortune, 19 Jan. 2026
That the first 28 Years Later ended its somber meditation on grief with a scene of Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell) and his acolytes doing Power Rangers moves on a horde of the infected suggested that the next movie would be a more lighthearted affair.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 15 Jan. 2026
Noun
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
See All Example Sentences for lighthearted
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lighthearted
Adjective
-
Petite and low-slung, the armless silhouette and oversized pillow cushions feel nonchalant but not sloppy, and can easily bring some dynamic energy to more formal living room seating layouts.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Her nonchalant, soft-glam is so perfectly mesmerizing, my TikTok and social media feeds are flooded with tutorials trying to re-create her signature style.—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Dinner is a playground of refreshing charm and joyful abandon; expect fresh takes like cavatelli with pepperoni butter or spaghetti alla chitarra with crab and tomato gravy.—
Chris Morocco,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
4 Feb. 2026
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Neither squad has a traditional rim protector, so both guard groups were emboldened to drive to the basket with abandon.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
2 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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What is intended to be a carefree girls trip devolves into a nightmare, unfolding when Katie (Charli xcx) becomes possessed by a violent, tortured spirit (Mizuhara) in the Japanese horror tradition.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
6 Feb. 2026
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The same net spend metric was almost 10 times higher in the carefree summer weeks, according to Transfermarkt.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The filmmakers on Saturday also discussed working with children on set, with both lauding young people’s naturalness and authenticity.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The Windsor family often shares moments during this time of year that reflect their warmth and naturalness.—
María Munsuri,
Glamour,
25 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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The restaurant employs roughly 80 people and has long been known for its casual atmosphere and accessibility in a town increasingly defined by high-end shops and restaurants.—
Spencer Wilson,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Marvel's first series for Disney+ proved to be a home run, for long-term MCU fans and casual viewers alike.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Some 64 years later, the development is officially coming down, following years of decay, neglect and abandonment.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
4 Feb. 2026
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The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the legislature should act on the report’s recommendations with actions to strengthen reporting, enforce existing laws, prevent further abandonment of wells and ensure polluters pay for cleanup.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The knit has stretch, but sizing can vary — shoppers suggest going up a size for a relaxed, oversized fit that feels intentional and elevated.—
Taylor Jean Stephan,
PEOPLE,
26 Jan. 2026
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Linen brings natural cooling performance and a relaxed, refined texture.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In practice that means less competition and more enthusiasm.—
Dana Harris-Bridson,
IndieWire,
2 Feb. 2026
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That’s a solid start for the $40 million production, which is expected to stick around beyond its debut, thanks to great word-of-mouth and enthusiasm for original horror.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lighthearted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lighthearted. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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