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Synonyms

buoyant

American  
[boi-uhnt, boo-yuhnt] / ˈbɔɪ ənt, ˈbu yənt /

adjective

  1. tending to float in a fluid.

  2. capable of keeping a body afloat, as a liquid.

  3. not easily depressed; cheerful.

    Synonyms:
    sunny, jaunty, breezy, lighthearted, happy
  4. cheering or invigorating.


buoyant British  
/ ˈbɔɪənt /

adjective

  1. able to float in or rise to the surface of a liquid

  2. (of a liquid or gas) able to keep a body afloat or cause it to rise

  3. cheerful or resilient

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of buoyant

First recorded in 1570–80; buoy + -ant

Explanation

Something that is buoyant floats in water. Since floating is happier than sinking, buoyant also refers to things are fun and upbeat. Someone with a buoyant personality is fun to be around, laughs a lot, smiles, and cheers other people up. Buoyant people are lively and lighthearted — the opposite of sad, depressed, and bummed out. Buoyant people are also called bubbly and cheerful, and it should help to remember that buoyant objects float — just like a buoyant person can seem like they're floating too (as in the expression "floating on air").

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