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
That lightheartedness quickly evolved into the NFL’s biggest off-field competition.
—
Karla Cote, Variety, 15 May 2026
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
Karla Cote, Variety, 15 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightheartedness
Noun
-
Natasha Braier’s ingenuity as a cinematographer meets the needs of the film and experiments with joyful abandon.—
Angelica Jade Bastién,
Vulture,
23 May 2026
-
However, McCain, 6 foot 3 and 194 pounds, drives with reckless abandon.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
23 May 2026
Noun
-
As a national icon, the Natural Bridge served as a quiet, Emersonian rebuke to Europe’s militaristic triumphal arches, reinforcing the naturalness of American democracy.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
That ease and naturalness are paramount to Copeland.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Such a high abandonment rate has only happened once since the Dust Bowl era in 1933 -- in 2022 when drought conditions were at record highs, Riddey said.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
28 May 2026
-
But what felt like freedom to me felt like abandonment to the others.—
Kelly Martens-Crompvoets,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
Bloom’s shares have risen by more than 200% since the start of the year on the back of investor enthusiasm over demand for its technology to power data centers.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
2 June 2026
-
No technical area is big enough to contain his enthusiasm, let alone the minimalist version at Bournemouth, which is the smallest in the Premier League.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
The first image in the exhibition announced the playful tenor of the oversize works, which often verged on the ludic despite the lack of spontaneity owing to the cumbersome Land Camera.—
James Quandt,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
Fusing magnetic spontaneity and attention to detail, Y’all Won displays the consistency at the center of Veeze’s output, even when his hand is forced.—
Matthew Ritchie,
Pitchfork,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
The overall warmth of the finished basement keeps pulling the family downstairs.—
Jody Garlock,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 June 2026
-
From the driver who picks you up at the airport, to the servers at the restaurants, and the tour guides—you are guaranteed a warmth and level of luxury and service that Four Seasons promises and delivers on.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Logically, based on a day-to-day common pattern, a person with high energy might merely be a sign of inspiration and zeal.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2026
-
But there is a difference between his expression of unflinching conservatism, on the bench and off, and his willingness, even his zeal, to condemn an entire political movement, one with more than historical interest.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
21 May 2026
Noun
-
This new rye whiskey started its life in Illinois, specifically at Chicago craft distillery Koval, which makes some very… interesting spirits (the Koopers trained there as distillers).—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
31 May 2026
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As creative director of menswear at Louis Vuitton, Williams is an organic partner for Moët & Chandon, which belongs to the wines and spirits division of luxury conglomerate LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lightheartedness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightheartedness. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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