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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

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 blithe These lines are both nervous tics and statements of blithe confidence. Phillip MacIak, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024 Yes, the sun might be glancing off the snowdrifts, and the birds may be chirping away with blithe exuberance. Celine Nguyen, The Atlantic, 20 Mar. 2024 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 See All Example Sentences for blithe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blithe
Adjective
  • These cheerful yellow dishes remind us of our grandparents’ tablescapes with colorful arrays of roasted vegetables and desserts filled with fresh berries.
    Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Garden statues peeking from behind planters, a vintage wheelbarrow brimming with fall blooms, or even cheerful pinwheels catching the autumn breeze can add charm.
    Angie Hicks, Boston Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Great American Family is making sure that everyone's television screens remain merry and bright this holiday season!
    Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Big Sur has enjoyed a reputation as a dream destination long before Big Little Lies and its merry band of accidentally murderous suburban mothers came around.
    Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The outfit itself might sound easy to replicate but requires a nonchalant attitude and high dose of confidence to pull off, not to mention a fair amount of disposable income.
    Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 20 Sep. 2025
  • The nonchalant response stood in stark contrast to the panicked phone calls from neighbors who reported hearing gunshots on their ordinarily quiet street, the Internal Affairs investigative reports show.
    Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Losing to Oregon was a tough blow in what has been a very optimistic season.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
  • That’s sets things up well for Tarasov, who like the Panthers is optimistic can take the next step in his game after an up-and-down tenure with the Blue Jackets.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Lily Mathé, one of the orchestra’s best violinists, vividly remembered being made to play jolly tunes in the SS officers’ mess at Auschwitz every evening while the guards ate their dinner.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Instead of its usual jolly cartoons, the channel began broadcasting footage of Russian military parades accompanied by music of the Russian nationalist singer Oleg Gazmanov.
    Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Many love to have the carefree candor of the vox populi intrude in celebrity circles where prohibitive media training and wellness blather pass for personality.
    Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
  • That could be why his inspiration this season draws, maybe wistfully, from his carefree childhood summers growing up in West London’s Wormwood Scrubs.
    Violet Goldstone, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The Andromeda Galaxy can be found less than 10 degrees to the upper left of Mirach — the brightest star in the Andromeda constellation — in the hours following sunset in late September.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 28 Sep. 2025
  • More Ishika Samant/Getty Images This is obviously a very disappointing result as Nabers is one of the bright young superstars in the entire NFL.
    Mark Kern, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Trump tariffs stalled Halloween orders About 90% of festive products – merchandise associated with holidays or other seasonal occasions – are imported from China, according to the South China Morning Post.
    George Petras, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025
  • If the typical harvest color palette is not your style, there’s finally a solution to finding festive fall decor that’s not orange.
    Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Blithe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blithe. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.

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