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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flimsy
The pseudo-maternal bond between Maleficent and Fanning’s Princess Aurora is flimsy, but when Maleficent brings the full force of her powers down on her enemies, the movie can be thrilling.
—
Josh Bell, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2025
But this Dumbo is as flimsy and devoid of emotion as a circus act, relying too heavily on the CGI elephant to generate any real flights of fantasy.
—Staff Author, EW.com, 22 Mar. 2025
Some are cheap, flimsy and ugly, while others are expensive, sturdy and elegant.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 20 Mar. 2025
Not only were the first issues of modest distinction and sales; Harold Ross, its founding editor, nearly lost the whole flimsy enterprise in an all-night poker game.
—David Remnick, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flimsy
Josh Bell, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2025
But this Dumbo is as flimsy and devoid of emotion as a circus act, relying too heavily on the CGI elephant to generate any real flights of fantasy.
—Staff Author, EW.com, 22 Mar. 2025
Some are cheap, flimsy and ugly, while others are expensive, sturdy and elegant.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 20 Mar. 2025
Not only were the first issues of modest distinction and sales; Harold Ross, its founding editor, nearly lost the whole flimsy enterprise in an all-night poker game.
—David Remnick, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flimsy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flimsy
Adjective
-
The algorithm fed the Giants pitcher a savory yet unsubstantial diet of short-form content.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
31 Mar. 2025
-
Salads Salads don’t have to feel flimsy or unsubstantial.—
Katie Workman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Sep. 2023
Adjective
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With a Labour government entrenched until at least 2029, that’s unlikely to happen anytime, but the big brands are also big planners, and always thinking about the success of the next generation.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2025
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That means consumers and businesses are unlikely to see any relief on loan rates in the near term, although economists are penciling in cuts later in the year, with the majority forecasting a reduction at the Fed's June 18 meeting.—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
-
Newborn caterpillars are too fragile to endure the sort of violent conflicts observed in other territorial animals, from ants to elephants, which can be deadly.—
Becky Ferreira,
New York Times,
4 Apr. 2025
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For those with fragile hair, Philip Kingsley’s fortifying shampoo aims to give the appearance of thicker, stronger strands.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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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
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But the sheer volume of options in our modern world—especially in digital spheres such as online shopping, streaming services and mobile applications—can overcome the satisfaction of making these choices.—
Uriel Maslansky,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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But sheer athleticism won’t turn him into a celebrity, and his demeanor doesn’t endear him to people—Majors plays Maddox as a sullen and tightly wound outcast whose environment shapes his isolation.—
Hannah Giorgis,
The Atlantic,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The graceful curvature of the leather seatbacks and straps encasing the sofas were a marvel, somehow both sturdy and delicate.—
Liam Hess,
Vogue,
10 Apr. 2025
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Loose clusters of delicate, sweetly-scented flowers appear in April and May.—
Rita Pelczar,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flimsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flimsy. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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