1
as in gauzy
being of a material lacking in sturdiness or substance
fairies are usually depicted as wearing gossamer or tattered clothing
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fluffy
resembling air in lightness
the gossamer veil seemed to float about the bride as she walked down the aisle
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sheer
very thin and easy to see through
didn't see the gossamer spider webs until the sun hit them just right
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in froth
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gossamer
Joe Morgenstern, WSJ, 23 Jan. 2020
Both would be coated with a gossamer-thin layer of gold for reflectivity and bathed in faint laser beams to detect their oscillations—and thus their temperature.
—Charles Q. Choi, Scientific American, 11 Dec. 2019
Ari Stark, Footwear News, 11 Feb. 2026
By gelding a choirboy, the Church would suspend his gossamer vocal cords so that a child’s song could live on in a man’s throat, backed, crucially, by a man’s powerful lungs.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gossamer
Adjective
The result is a sequence of events that’s both intriguing and gossamer-thin.
—Joe Morgenstern, WSJ, 23 Jan. 2020
Both would be coated with a gossamer-thin layer of gold for reflectivity and bathed in faint laser beams to detect their oscillations—and thus their temperature.
—Charles Q. Choi, Scientific American, 11 Dec. 2019
Noun
In Camps’ hands, a cable or crewneck is never simply just that — there’s a playfulness to her draping and cutouts, subverted by the juxtaposition of gossamer-like fine gauge underpinnings with cozier, enveloping sweaters.
—Ari Stark, Footwear News, 11 Feb. 2026
By gelding a choirboy, the Church would suspend his gossamer vocal cords so that a child’s song could live on in a man’s throat, backed, crucially, by a man’s powerful lungs.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gossamer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gossamer
Adjective
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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
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Looking like an early aughts version of her mom, the model posed for a watery photo shoot in a sleeveless chiffon shift dress, as well as a a gauzy white sundress with spaghetti straps and lace trim.—
Chanel Vargas,
InStyle,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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My personal favorite—and most complimented—from Emi Jay blends blends aloe leaf juice and glycerin for a fluffy, ethereal scent.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
2 Apr. 2026
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Their flowers, by Silvia Mattera, were green and white in color scheme and highly textured, with fluffy white garden roses, geraniums, hydrangea, and lilies of the valley dominating the arrangements.—
Kaitlin Menza,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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If the success of a party is measured by the sheer volume of sequins, few could compete with the Conservative Action Political Conference.—
Sarah Bahari,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Mar. 2026
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At various crucial points in the journey, the crew expects to lose contact with mission control because of the sheer distance and physics involved with the flight.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Blending the chives and eggs together on high first, then quickly whizzing in the cream and cheese will encourage seamless emulsification without extra froth.—
Inés Anguiano,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Mar. 2026
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Now the vibe has reversed, suppressing some of that froth.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Here’s a hard look at what makes the evidence so flimsy.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
1 Apr. 2026
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TThe midweight design has some structure and is not flimsy at all, and cushioning around the ankle and Achilles adds durability (and comfort on longer hikes).—
Christa Sgobba,
Glamour,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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That perspective carries through in everything from pricing and negotiation to design, digital exposure, and the behind-the-scenes systems intended to make the process smoother and more transparent.—
Connie Etemadi,
AZCentral.com,
31 Mar. 2026
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The keycaps are solid black with shine-through letters, while eight keys on the north part of the modular keypad are thick, smooth, transparent plastic.—
Aubrey Jowers,
PC Magazine,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Natural-finish moisturizers are not a word salad of marketing fluff—pinky promise.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
20 Mar. 2026
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The egg whites add volume and fluff, while the additional fat from the yolks makes the filling ultra smooth, as decadent as the finest chocolate mousse.—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Even with her strong work, the film around her always feels, at best, insubstantial, and, at worst, incomplete.—
Chase Hutchinson,
IndieWire,
19 Mar. 2026
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Scarlet’s good intentions to end wars by way of sheer determination to do what’s right might prove insubstantial in practice.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gossamer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gossamer. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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