Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

1

lightness

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of lightness

1 the state or quality of having little weight
  • The first thing I noticed about the little bird was its lightness; I could hardly tell I was holding it in my hand.
Synonyms of lightness

slightness, weightlessness
Words Related to lightness

airiness, delicacy, ethereality, etherealness

flimsiness, fluffiness, insubstantiality
Near Antonyms of lightness

solidity, solidness, substantiality
Antonyms of lightness

heaviness, heftiness, massiveness, ponderousness, weightiness
2 a lack of seriousness often at an improper time
  • We were shocked by the inappropriate lightness of the anchorman's tone.
Synonyms of lightness

facetiousness, flightiness, flippancy, frivolity, frivolousness, frothiness, levity, light-headedness, light-mindedness, silliness
Words Related to lightness

cheer, cheerfulness, festivity, gaiety (also gayety), glee, gleefulness, high-spiritedness, hilarity, joviality, lightheartedness, merriment, mirth, mirthfulness

childishness, goofiness, puerility
Near Antonyms of lightness

dejection, depression, despondency, dispiritedness, downheartedness, gloom, gloominess, heartsickness, joylessness, melancholy, mopes, moroseness, sadness, sullenness, unhappiness
Antonyms of lightness

earnestness, gravity, seriousness, soberness, solemnity, solemnness
2

lightness

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of lightness

the quality or state of having or giving off light
  • The photographer was concerned that the lightness of the background would cast the main subject into shadow.
Synonyms of lightness

brightness, brilliance, brilliancy, candor, dazzle, effulgence, illumination, lambency, luminance, luminosity, luminousness, luster (or lustre), lustrousness, radiance, refulgence, splendor
Words Related to lightness

blaze, flare, flash, flicker, light

fluorescence, incandescence, luminescence

burnish, gloss, polish, sheen, shine, shininess

fire, flame, glare, glow

flash, gleam, glimmer, glint, glisten, glitter, scintillation, shimmer, sparkle, twinkle
Near Antonyms of lightness

dimness, gloominess, somberness

cloudiness, haziness, murkiness, obscureness, obscurity

colorlessness, grayness, lackluster, paleness, shadiness, shadowiness
Antonyms of lightness

blackness, dark, darkness, dullness (also dulness), duskiness

Learn More about lightness

  1. Dictionary: Definition of lightness Spanish Central: Translation of lightness Nglish: Translation of lightness for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of lightness for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up lightness? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games