silly

sil·ly

adjective \ˈsi-lē\

sil·li·ersil·li·est

Definition of SILLY

1

archaic : helpless, weak

2

a : rustic, plain

b obsolete : lowly in station : humble

3

a : weak in intellect : foolish

b : exhibiting or indicative of a lack of common sense or sound judgment <a very silly mistake>

c : trifling, frivolous

4

: being stunned or dazed <scared silly> <knocked me silly>

— sil·li·ly \ˈsi-lə-lē\ adverb

— sil·li·ness \ˈsi-lē-nəs\ noun

— silly noun or adverb

Examples of SILLY

1. I hope I didn't make any silly mistakes.
2. The idea does seem a bit silly.
3. That's the silliest thing I've ever heard.
4. You drove in this weather? What a silly thing to do!
5. Silly me. I locked myself out of the car again.
6. Ask a silly question, and you get a silly answer.
7. “I can't ask you to do that.” “Don't be silly. It is my pleasure.”
8. What a silly little purse. It looks too small to hold everything that I'd need to carry.
9. I'm tired of watching silly movies.
10. The book was a silly waste of time.

Origin of SILLY

Middle English sely, silly happy, innocent, pitiable, feeble, from Old English sǣlig, from sǣl happiness; akin to Old High German sālig happy

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SILLY

Synonyms

birdbrained, ditzy (or ditsy), dizzy, featherbrained, flighty, frivolous, frothy, futile, goofy, harebrained, light-headed, light-minded, puerile, scatterbrained, giddy, yeasty

Antonyms

earnest, serious, serious-minded, sober, unfrivolous

Related Words

fatuous, foolish, inane, nonsensical, thoughtless, witless; crazy, daffy, daft, fruity; exuberant, flippant, fluttery, giggly, happy, light, lighthearted, playful; sappy, shallow, superficial

Near Antonyms

grave, melancholy, somber (or sombre), thoughtful; dignified, heavy, no-nonsense, sedate, severe, solemn, staid

See Synonym Discussion at simple

Rhymes with SILLY

billy, Chile, chili, chilly, dilly, filly, frilly, gillie, hilly, lily, stilly, Tilly