lightness

lightness, light-mindedness, levity, frivolity, flippancy, volatility, flightiness are comparable when denoting the quality, manner, or attitude of one who is irresponsibly gay or indifferent especially when seriousness is expected.

Lightness implies a general lack of weight or seriousness (as in character, mood, conduct, or speech)

{

the lightness of tone with which I uttered such serious words— E. J. Goodman

}

The term may further imply instability

{

there is a lightness about the feminine mind—a touch and go— George Eliot

}

or carefree heedlessness

{

looked at her perplexedly, wondering if it were lightness or dissimulation that enabled her to touch so easily on the past— Wharton

}

or indifference to the seriousness of a situation

{

treating with lightness what is matter of life and death— Arnold

}

Light-mindedness, even more than lightness, suggests a temperamental lack of seriousness or stability (women are often unjustly accused of light-mindedness)

Levity usually suggests more specifically trifling or unseasonable gaiety

{

her levity, her frivolous laughter, her unwomanly jests— J. R. Green

}

{

Molière and his audience were accustomed to regard conjugal infidelity with levity when it did not touch themselves— Alexander

}

Frivolity adds to lightness the implication of empty or idle speech or conduct; the term often carries a strong connotation of triviality or of pettiness

{

the extraordinary frivolity of much which passes for religious interest— Inge

}

{

tried to suggest . . . that intellectual curiosity was not necessarily a form of sin or even frivolity— Time

}

but its most frequent implication is that of such indulgence in meaningless gaieties that serious employments are disregarded

{

people . . . whose idleness and frivolity and extravagance set a most corrupting moral example— Shaw

}

{

every form of human frivolity from bingo to short bathing suits on Sunday— Coons

}

Flippancy applies especially to unbecoming levity or pertness in speaking of or in dealing with serious things

{

modest, and without anything like flippancy, yet without any obsequiousness— Arthur Young

}

{

the flippancy with which my requests for information are treated— Kipling

}

Volatility implies such lightness or fickleness of disposition as precludes long or serious dwelling upon any one idea or plan

{

volatility of character evinces no capabilities for great affections— Shelley}

}

{

another current characteristic . . . observed is the volatility of the public mind at this time— M. W. Childs

}

Flightiness may imply extreme volatility, often with a suggestion of loss of mental balance

{

his flightiness has been noticeable since his severe illness

}

but it often suggests extreme capriciousness or a gay whimsicality characteristic of one who is not long contented with what he has or does

{

flightiness was her infirmity .... Little things filled her thoughts— Glasgow

}

Analogous words: buoyancy, resiliency, elasticity, effervescence, expansiveness (see corresponding adjectives at ELASTIC): gaiety, liveliness, vivaciousness or vivacity (see corresponding adjectives at LIVELY): lightheartedness, cheerfulness (see corresponding adjectives at GLAD)

Antonyms: seriousness

Contrasted words: graveness or gravity, earnestness, soberness, sedateness, staidness, somberness (see corresponding adjectives at SERIOUS)