NYT Dictionary

BLITHE

/blaɪð/
AdjectiveBLEYETHGrade 11

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025, 2026

Meaning

Casually careless or indifferent; showing a lack of concern; nonchalant.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

From Middle English blithe (“glad, happy, joyful; causing joy, joyous; gentle, mild; gracious, merciful; bright, shining; beautiful, fair”) [and other forms], from Old English blīþe (“happy, gentle”), from Proto-West Germanic *blīþī, from Proto-Germanic *blīþiz (“friendly; gentle, mild; pleasing”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰlī- (“fine; light; pleasant”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (“shiny; white”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian bliede (“glad, cheerful, merry”), West Frisian bliid (“cheerful, glad”), Dutch blij (“happy”), German Low German blied (“happy, lucky”).

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

blithesomelightheartedlightsomebeamingblaseblissfulboonbrightcarefreecareless

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 3 recorded puzzles:

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