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
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.
Recent Examples of lighthearted
Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Jan. 2026
Indiana legislators have been filing bills for the 2026 legislative session, which begins again Monday, and some of the bills have a lighthearted goal.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for lighthearted
Adjective
There’s also a palpable push to up the Pittsburgh-specific material that honors the real place outside the hospital doors, from somber reminders of the Tree of Life synagogue shooting to lighthearted traditions like an annual furry convention.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Jan. 2026
Indiana legislators have been filing bills for the 2026 legislative session, which begins again Monday, and some of the bills have a lighthearted goal.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
Noun
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
See All Example Sentences for lighthearted
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lighthearted
Adjective
-
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
-
One fictional and the other real, the drug lords look nonchalant.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Green still approaches stopping the other team with the kind of reckless abandon of a man 10 years younger, and is still a smart defender who commands the respect of his peers and coach.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
-
In Kraus’s live, subjective mode, these were the residue of feverish abandon.—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
After critics picked apart her appearance during the 2015 Wimbledon tennis tournament, Williams took to social media and retorted with a carefree beach selfie.—
Grace Gavilanes,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The decades-old restaurant is nestled in a 2-story building in Elizabeth, serving up barbecue shrimp and live music and carefree N’awlins vibes.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The Windsor family often shares moments during this time of year that reflect their warmth and naturalness.—
María Munsuri,
Glamour,
25 Dec. 2025
-
Frogposting, then, pits the intractably byzantine, soulless and cutthroat nature of the contemporary economy in a simple binary against what the posters envision as the green, healthy, naturalness of the Earth—framed as a joke, the base unit of online commentary.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
3 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
For many young women, the stiletto’s discomfort is part of the appeal, offering proof that effort and glamor remain in an age of casual sneakers.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Simple yet polished, the Anrabess Long Sleeve Midi Dress is perfect for a casual Thanksgiving feast or a fall day out on the town.—
Rebecca Jones,
Southern Living,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Nora, a volatile actress struggling with crippling stage fright, is consumed by deep resentment over her father’s abandonment.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Its abandonment, with powder canisters spilling across the rock, suggested that its owner left in haste.—
Henry Wismayer,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Other reviewers appreciate the sweater’s relaxed silhouette that drapes nicely without looking baggy.—
Isabel Garcia,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Cate Blanchett is the queen of a relaxed, textured bob.—
Catharine Malzahn,
InStyle,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Pre-festival enthusiasm sagged compared to the inaugural year.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Jan. 2026
-
More energy and enthusiasm There were too many times in the first few months of the season when this team looked lethargic.—
Jonas Siegel,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lighthearted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lighthearted. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share