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as in merry
indicative of or marked by high spirits or good humor a blithe remark that good food enjoyed with good company makes good wine seem even better

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective blithe differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of blithe are jocund, jolly, jovial, and merry. While all these words mean "showing high spirits or lightheartedness," blithe suggests carefree, innocent, or even heedless gaiety.

arrived late in his usual blithe way

Where would jocund be a reasonable alternative to blithe?

The words jocund and blithe are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, jocund stresses elation and exhilaration of spirits.

singing, dancing, and jocund feasting

When might jolly be a better fit than blithe?

The meanings of jolly and blithe largely overlap; however, jolly suggests high spirits expressed in laughing, bantering, and jesting.

our jolly host enlivened the party

When can jovial be used instead of blithe?

The synonyms jovial and blithe are sometimes interchangeable, but jovial suggests the stimulation of conviviality and good fellowship.

dinner put them in a jovial mood

When is merry a more appropriate choice than blithe?

Although the words merry and blithe have much in common, merry suggests cheerful, joyous, uninhibited enjoyment of frolic or festivity.

a merry group of revelers

Examples 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 blithe This is a sleazy, wretched racket, yet the film is nearly as blithe about it as Shawn is. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 13 July 2023 The blithe behavior of the officers and young women staffers in the photo is often unsettling, especially when the eight-member ensemble cast add an eerie soundtrack of laughter, accordion music or clattering spoons, as when the women eat fresh blueberries from china bowls. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Aug. 2022 There will no doubt be some people who see the film and find its power structure, and its arguments, too lopsided, too blithe about Leo and all he’s carried with him into these trysts. Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2022 The paper makes the blithe assertion that Ethiopians have been resident in the highlands of that nation for tens of thousands of years, but the latest research is that that just isn't so. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 12 Dec. 2012 See all Example Sentences for blithe 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blithe
Adjective
  • The new film, which premiered at the Shanghai Film Festival in June, stars Huang Xiaoming in a transformative performance as a cheerful but mentally challenged man who lives with his nearly 70-year-old mother (Hsiao-Fen Lu).
    Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Nov. 2024
  • No song was left unturned by this cheerful and nearly perfect sextet.
    Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 30 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • The company is also holding dinners featuring local chefs who incorporate cacao into their meals, a day of merry crafts-making and a festive holiday market with chocolatiers and foragers, among other chocolate-centric things.
    Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
  • Krampus Nacht attendees will have the opportunity to drink, be merry and throw axes in a series of challenges—after some practice with a professional.
    Cailey Gleeson, Journal Sentinel, 21 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • But perhaps the more pronounced change in her life since turning 50 is the fact that the fashion designer and former Spice Girl has grown more nonchalant about what the world around her thinks about her.
    Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
  • His tone is more nonchalant than angry, spoken from the perspective of a 74-year-old man who seems to have long put any negative feelings in the rear view.
    Jason Newman, Rolling Stone, 18 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • Despite a bike bust in the years after the pandemic, both are optimistic about the industry’s future.
    Max Scheinblum, The Denver Post, 13 Nov. 2024
  • Our data is optimistic, but the politics is uncertain.
    James Morton Turner, Discover Magazine, 9 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • These tunes usually begin to surge in November, as the days following Thanksgiving often signify the official start of the jolliest time of the year.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
  • The video is a love letter to Paris as seen through the jolly eyes of Jacquemus, and features a cast of characters and friends (of Nike, Jacquemus, and the designer himself) including Serena Williams, Manu Rios, Central Cee, Carine Roitfeld, Amina Muaddi, and many, many more.
    José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 10 July 2024
Adjective
  • With Mercury entering Sagittarius on Nov. 2, our mental process shifts from the intense and detective-like mind of Scorpio — which is typically more concerned with uncovering hidden truths — to a more carefree and expansive perspective.
    Valerie Mesa, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024
  • There’s a happy middle-ground — even in a political show, even in a political show being released right now — that’s challenging and enjoyable, considered and carefree.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • The new stars are still burning bright, but astronomers don’t expect any of them to last more than 10 million years.
    Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024
  • One of my inspirations was the 'quiet luxury,' like a suit jacket with a traditional fabric and color and a bright color silk on the reverse side.
    Jamie L. LaReau, Detroit Free Press, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Champagne Toast 3-Wick Candle This fruity candle smells like a sparkling spritzer—perfect for setting the mood for a festive gathering.
    Christina Shepherd McGuire, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Alternatively, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey provides a mellow, caramel-rich sweetness that keeps things festive without clashing.
    Emily Price, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near blithe

Cite this Entry

“Blithe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blithe. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

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