1
as in unsubstantial
being of a material lacking in sturdiness or substance
a flimsy scarf that was more for decoration than for warmth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unlikely
not likely to be true or to occur
"The check is in the mail" is a pretty flimsy and tired excuse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of flimsy
But the Ergo feels distinctly premium, unlike the Wave Keys, which is distinctly lightweight and flimsy, likely thanks to the recycled plastics used in its build.
—
Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 18 Apr. 2026
Dozens of flimsy apartment buildings collapsed; nearly fifteen hundred residents died.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
The vast majority live in flimsy tents or makeshift shelters, with no reliable supplies of the essentials for life — and very few sources of income.
—José Andrés, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026
What the evaluation process actually looks like A major myth says online screens are flimsy or amateurish.
—Lucy Jones
april 11, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flimsy
Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 18 Apr. 2026
Dozens of flimsy apartment buildings collapsed; nearly fifteen hundred residents died.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
The vast majority live in flimsy tents or makeshift shelters, with no reliable supplies of the essentials for life — and very few sources of income.
—José Andrés, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026
What the evaluation process actually looks like A major myth says online screens are flimsy or amateurish.
—Lucy Jones
april 11, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flimsy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flimsy
Adjective
-
This can alter the amount and types of ACE-inhibiting peptides created during fermentation2—and possibly account for kombucha's unsubstantial effect on blood pressure.—
MD Published,
Verywell Health,
27 Dec. 2025
-
Then again … This really does sum up Reeves’s unsubstantial performance as Jonathan Harker, whose new client is definitely up to no good.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Given the Fed's current hold, a sudden drop seems unlikely in the near term, but it's never guaranteed.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
-
Ohm is an unlikely hero, but the nagging mystery gets its hooks into him, and the only way out is through.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
The wall was as insubstantial as a set on a film studio’s back lot.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Even with her strong work, the film around her always feels, at best, insubstantial, and, at worst, incomplete.—
Chase Hutchinson,
IndieWire,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
American frontier labs hold the lead on models, chips, and lithography — but the report finds near-unanimous conviction among leaders that this advantage is fragile.—
Rachel Keidan,
semafor.com,
7 May 2026
-
Although the population size seems to be stable, threats from climate change — rising ocean levels surrounding small islands — and from the ongoing loss of their habitat to human development will take a toll on their already fragile island worlds over the coming decades.—
Craig Stanford,
Big Think,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
But a gossamer jacket tossed over a swimsuit on a breezy evening?—
Jennifer Noyes,
Air Mail,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The type of memory flashbacks that are shot at knee level, gauzy and out of focus, with a gossamer visual touch to conjure whispering, buried emotions of the past.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
After snapping photos of the bride all dressed up in a long gauzy veil and a white halterdress, the reality star—who wore a white sports bra with a white bathrobe tied around her waist—changed into a polarizing skirt set for the ceremony.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The gauzy texture is made from organic cotton, and the decorative pillow shams have a highly dimensional stitching.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
What strikes fear into the hearts of overseas rivals is the sheer scale of production in China, where automakers can rely on deep domestic supply chains and have automated their factories.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
-
Every year, the level of talent and sheer ability seems more outrageous.—
Dan Stahl,
New Yorker,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Hairstylist Ashley Ruiz pulled her hair back into a super sleek bun, and makeup artist Jenna Nicole gave her an almost-red magenta lip with a flawless, delicate cat eye.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
7 May 2026
-
With waitlists that seemingly double with each restock, pairs in delicate ivory and chartreuse bring a romantic touch to everyday staples when styled with soft knits and lightweight jackets.—
Laura Jackson,
Vogue,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flimsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flimsy. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
