These words refer to a pleasant, warm, cheerful or high-spirited disposition or manner. Blithe indicates an attitude that is cheerful, mirthful, joyous or gay: blithe crowds enjoying the sunny weather in the park. The word can have a less favourable application to a manner that is casual, indifferent or airy, particularly when directed towards something that should be taken seriously: listening to my grievance with a blithe lack of concern.

Genial points to a more low-key or long-term good-humoured attitude that is exhibited in a kindly, pleasant or warm manner; it suggests an unruffled or even temper and an ability to put people at ease: an extremely genial host. Light-hearted is closer in tone to blithe , since it suggests an absence of care or a positive state of buoyant delight: light-hearted youngsters singing as the hiked through the bush. A contrast of how one feels, whereas the very essence of light-hearted is its suggestion of a spontaneous welling up of high spirits. Genial , furthermore, suggests friendly relationships with others; light-hearted may pertain to someone completely alone.

Convivial serves as an intensification of genial , suggesting jolly sociability and warm fellow-feeling; its Latin root pertains to a feast or banquet and this is often reflected in the English use of the word: convivial merrymakers at the carnival. Jovial may suggest sociability, but it is less specific in indicating any sort of good-natured amiability. The word is very often used to describe a jolly but dignified fat man, so much so that the word is sometimes taken to specify this situation. Similarly, blithe sometimes suggests a spry, elfin or fey person, particularly a woman.

Elated an ebullient both refer, like light-hearted , to a welling up of high spirits. Elated , however, can often refer to a response to some external occurrence or news, whereas ebullient suggests the same spontaneity as light-hearted. Ebullient stems from the root of a Latin word meaning to boil out, and the English word reflects this in pointing to a bubbling over with enthusiasm, excitement or exuberance: fans who were elated when the team scored another goal; an ebullient personality that always seemed to overflow with vivacity and zest.