Definition of blithenext
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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 As for prison itself, Boone is blithe. Carrie Battan, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025 Saul Steinberg’s artwork captured the insularity of Manhattan, the blithe sense of locals that not much beyond the island really exists nor matters. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2025 Weary of dealing with angry calls from the mayor about Frank’s blithe trail of city property destruction, police chief Davis (CCH Pounder) warns him to play nice with major donor Kane, since Police Squad’s funding is at risk. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2025 These lines are both nervous tics and statements of blithe confidence. Phillip MacIak, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024 See All Example Sentences for blithe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blithe
Adjective
  • This tropical mini dress has the cheerful, vacation-ready energy of pricier resort brands without the sticker shock.
    Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 5 June 2026
  • Tracks from bands like The Vaselines and Beat Happening add to the cheerful freneticism.
    Colin Wrenn, Denver Post, 3 June 2026
Adjective
  • The picture’s eclectic cast, which included Anouk Aimée, Greta Scacchi and Maximilian Schell (with cameos by Faye Dunaway, Holly Hunter and Jeff Goldblum), swirled its merry way across the grand event in search of romance, fame and the ever-elusive movie deal.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
  • But in the cycling ecosystem, the Rockets are still minnows, a bunch of merry men with a camera — up against teams funded by international business conglomerates and nation states.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 9 May 2026
Adjective
  • Slattery has a knack for giving big performances that also feel nonchalant, almost like he’s been there in that backyard the whole time yelling about lettuce, and a TV production just happened to set up shop around him.
    Joe Reid, Vulture, 29 May 2026
  • In the world of street style, models offer a particular brand of nonchalant cool that the industry has long been obsessed with.
    Christina Holevas, Vogue, 25 May 2026
Adjective
  • Workers who feel optimistic about AI’s effect on their careers report dramatically stronger workplace outcomes across engagement, effort, and intent to stay.
    Matt Rosenbaum, Fortune, 29 May 2026
  • Her mindset immediately shifted from a sinking feeling to being optimistic about the future.
    Ayren Jackson-Cannady, SELF, 29 May 2026
Adjective
  • He-Man was now a jolly, quip-ready hero, whose best friends were scaredy-cat Cringer (a green-and-yellow tiger who transformed into Battle Cat), and an annoying, hovering magician called Orko.
    Richard Edwards, Space.com, 1 June 2026
  • Fishing boats sat docked along the pier, bouncing on top of the water like a row of jolly babies.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 May 2026
Adjective
  • And yet Guardiola’s time at the club cannot be measured simply in numbers and statistics and should not be seen as a carefree march to silverware.
    Sam Lee, New York Times, 25 May 2026
  • Summer jewelry calls for playful shell motifs, decking out your ankles, and embracing the season's most carefree trends.
    Frances Solá-Santiago, InStyle, 24 May 2026
Adjective
  • Ex-Arsenal player Héctor Bellerín wore bright pink on the Louis Vuitton catwalk in 2019, while Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga walked for Balenciaga in 2022.
    Sheena McKenzie, CNN Money, 7 June 2026
  • Deneb is the brightest star in the constellation Cygnus the Swan.
    Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 7 June 2026
Adjective
  • The itineraries aboard the line’s nearly 2,700-guest Nieuw Statendam ship will incorporate the festive stops into ocean voyages.
    Nathan Diller, USA Today, 28 May 2026
  • The festive holiday lights, a winter staple of Mears Park, lined only one side of the park, leaving its three other sides bare.
    Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 27 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Blithe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blithe. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.

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