blithe

adjective

Showing a casual and cheerful indifference considered to be callous or improper; happy or joyous.

Intermediate - Known to most educated speakers

Etymology

From Old English blithe "joyous, cheerful, pleasant," from Proto-Germanic *blithiz "gentle, kind."

Examples in Use

1.
"She showed blithe disregard for the rules."
2.
"The children played with blithe abandon."
3.
"His blithe spirit was infectious."

Related Vocabulary

Synonyms

carefreecheerfullightheartedmerryunconcerned

Related Words

joyoushappybuoyantcasual

Fun Fact

Blithe can be positive (cheerful) or negative (callously carefree). Noël Coward's play "Blithe Spirit" (1941) plays on both meanings—a ghost is both cheerful and annoyingly unconcerned about the living.

Word Game Tips

Letters: 6 letters (B, L, I, T, H, E)

Scrabble Value: 11 points

Tip: The letter pattern in "BLITHE" appears in many related words.

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