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
Instead, Green presents a flimsy scenario of one popstar wielding his power for vaguely nefarious purposes.
—
Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 10 Mar. 2025
Despite their higher cost and flimsy architecture, paper straws are thought to be less toxic.
—Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN, 14 Feb. 2025
These traits make the keyboard feel flimsy compared to something like a Chilkey ND75, my favorite keyboard of last year.
—Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2025
Lily, who cried over a flimsy plastic Disney princess, will not care that the Disney paper dolls are flat.
—Judy Holmes, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flimsy
Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 10 Mar. 2025
Despite their higher cost and flimsy architecture, paper straws are thought to be less toxic.
—Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN, 14 Feb. 2025
These traits make the keyboard feel flimsy compared to something like a Chilkey ND75, my favorite keyboard of last year.
—Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2025
Lily, who cried over a flimsy plastic Disney princess, will not care that the Disney paper dolls are flat.
—Judy Holmes, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flimsy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flimsy
Adjective
-
Salads Salads don’t have to feel flimsy or unsubstantial.—
Katie Workman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Sep. 2023
-
From a personal finance perspective, people with extra cash should feel free to put an unsubstantial portion of their wealth into high-risk, high-volatility assets like crypto or meme stocks or even Super Bowl bets (thanks for the two-touchdown performance, Cooper Kupp).—
Scott Nover,
Quartz,
14 Feb. 2022
Adjective
-
But impeachment and removal are unlikely under the current makeup of Congress.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2025
-
What the economy is now experiencing, partially a result of President Donald Trump’s tariff policies dampening economic growth forecasts and renewing concerns about inflation, is unlikely to prompt Fed officials to so much as whisper stagflation to one another.—
Elisabeth Buchwald,
CNN,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
But, taking these study findings from here all the way down the drug development pipeline to where there’s a safe and effective new drug on the market is expected to take a long time and a not insubstantial amount of money.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
21 Jan. 2025
-
With a not insubstantial piece of Mexico’s economy reliant on production stateside, a cessation of those inflows will logically impoverish a big number of those formerly sustained directly by remittances.—
John Tamny,
Forbes,
4 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Efficiency at what cost? Read: The rise of techno-authoritarianism Careless People illustrates how this ideological vacuum is filled by its leaders’ fleeting whims and governed by their fragile egos.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2025
-
What unfolds is a two-person dialogue on the subject of fragile masculinity.—
Doreen St. Félix,
The New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
No matter how far-fetched the premise or gossamer-thin the story, the musical invites (compels) us to go along with its essential surrealism, to travel to that dream space where everyday life suddenly moves and sounds deliriously out of this world.—
Manohla Dargis,
New York Times,
7 May 2020
-
For her label Anissa Aida, designer Anissa Meddeb, who lives in the capital, makes gossamer silk blouses evoking the striped motif of handwoven fouta towels and voluminous coats inspired by the burnoose cloaks worn by Berbers.—
Sarah Khan,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Feb. 2020
Adjective
-
Bridges were needed not just to fulfill a gauzy City Beautiful dream, but for practical reasons.—
Gary Kamiya,
San Francisco Chronicle,
4 Mar. 2022
-
Having grown up working in his mother’s Los Angeles hair salon, Bradford adopted a primary artmaking material that is not paint, but rather small gauzy papers used to curl hair.—
Matthew Bourbon,
Dallas News,
22 Apr. 2020
Adjective
-
This semi sheer curtain panel is an ideal solution for anyone who’s looking to filter in light without sacrificing privacy.—
Megan Schaltegger,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 Mar. 2025
-
The film captures the sheer physical toll of the journey, with men battling not just the elements but each other, as fear and desperation set in.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
After more than 30 years, Wimberley Glassworks still flourishes and its gallery is bursting with color—plates in kaleidoscopic shades, delicate pieces glowing brightly on tables, sculptures fanning out in rainbows over the walls, as if outraged by the white paint.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
29 Mar. 2025
-
Reinforcing its status as a rising force in contemporary fashion, Ann Andelman’s boutique launch coincides with the release of the label’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection — a range that explores the delicate balance between sensibility and emotion through a dreamlike visual narrative.—
Angela Lei,
Forbes.com,
29 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flimsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flimsy. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share