1
as in insanity
lack of good sense or judgment
she was both amused and irritated by the silliness of his comments regarding the movie they has just seen
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nonsense
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense
stop this silliness at once!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in lightness
a lack of seriousness often at an improper time
this inability to refrain from silliness is a distressing sign of professional immaturity
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 silliness
More than anything, even amid the silliness and absurdities of the medical emergencies, the show’s feel-good moments, which involve people being saved and others working together, depict a deep humanity.
—
Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025
While the slower speed and emphasis on physics, from the long-distance drop of bullet trajectories to the breakable foundations of structures, are a huge part of Battlefield’s DNA, there’s also just an inherent silliness to some of the tactics that stir joy.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2025
Even its most mean-spirited plotline, in which a married couple assemble a fake theater production to humiliate their ex-neighbor whose noisiness prompted them to move, is presented as more of a gentle exercise in silliness than anything truly vindictive.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 3 Oct. 2025
In a throwback to the warts-and-all silliness of the family’s legendary MTV reality show, The Osbournes, Coming Home appears to lean into the domestic comedy of the Osbourne clan, opening with a jittery Ozzy begging Sharon to stop driving in a herky-jerky manner.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 1 Oct. 2025
The American Kennel Club (AKC) highlights their muscular physique and their confidence among the canine world, but that’s not without a certain level of silliness and goofiness too.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
What really makes Dog Man special, though, is how Pilkey’s trademark mix of absurd silliness and surprising sincerity shines through.
—Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
People had never seen that kind of silliness.
—Jason Mastrodonato, Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2025
Winston’s in danger of being crushed by the system, not just a few popular-kid sociopaths, and the unassuming nature of Dinklage’s performance gives the character a stubborn dignity amid all the silliness and prosthetics.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025
While the slower speed and emphasis on physics, from the long-distance drop of bullet trajectories to the breakable foundations of structures, are a huge part of Battlefield’s DNA, there’s also just an inherent silliness to some of the tactics that stir joy.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2025
Even its most mean-spirited plotline, in which a married couple assemble a fake theater production to humiliate their ex-neighbor whose noisiness prompted them to move, is presented as more of a gentle exercise in silliness than anything truly vindictive.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 3 Oct. 2025
In a throwback to the warts-and-all silliness of the family’s legendary MTV reality show, The Osbournes, Coming Home appears to lean into the domestic comedy of the Osbourne clan, opening with a jittery Ozzy begging Sharon to stop driving in a herky-jerky manner.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 1 Oct. 2025
The American Kennel Club (AKC) highlights their muscular physique and their confidence among the canine world, but that’s not without a certain level of silliness and goofiness too.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
What really makes Dog Man special, though, is how Pilkey’s trademark mix of absurd silliness and surprising sincerity shines through.
—Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
People had never seen that kind of silliness.
—Jason Mastrodonato, Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2025
Winston’s in danger of being crushed by the system, not just a few popular-kid sociopaths, and the unassuming nature of Dinklage’s performance gives the character a stubborn dignity amid all the silliness and prosthetics.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silliness
Noun
-
Working with Chhaya clients who were facing foreclosure, Mamdani got an intimate look at the little insanities of the city’s housing crisis.—
Eric Lach,
New Yorker,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Exantus was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity but was sentenced for assault in the 2015 case involving 6-year-old Logan Tipton.—
Leo Bertucci,
Louisville Courier Journal,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Checkmate has done lots of covert ops spy nonsense in comics throughout the years, and notable works with Batman on occasion.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
11 Oct. 2025
-
The new Tron sequel steps outside of cyberspace but won’t leave the sci-fi nonsense behind.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
At last, a bit of fizz and lightness, a sliver of dawn at the end of a velvet night.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Steel was used for the house’s structure, for its recyclability but also for lightness.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Cut Sanders, just as the Philadelphia Eagles did with sixth-round quarterback Kyle McCord and countless other teams do every year with countless other late-round rookie quarterbacks, and end this silly madness.—
Jason Lloyd,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Stella Parton, country superstar Dolly Parton's younger sister, is calling on her famous sibling's fans and followers to stop the madness.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Pynchon’s absurdism is his way of grappling with and undermining the awful too-muchness and stupidity of it all — especially of the American project and its many tentacles.—
Jack Denton,
Vulture,
6 Oct. 2025
-
The only reason for this incessant stupidity?—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Among the many items covering the table were a seasonal vegetable salad, a Margherita pizza the kids shared and an order of Strozzapretti for me, all of which were eaten with glee.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Oct. 2025
-
When the fort commander surrendered his sword, shrieks of glee ripped from the throats of the Green Mountain Boys.—
Caity Weaver,
The Atlantic,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Secret Agent opens in stark simplicity.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
10 Oct. 2025
-
As for the overall style, Thevenot gravitates toward simplicity, suggesting something in the center of the updo-to-hair-down spectrum.—
Anneke Knot,
Allure,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Try Greek yogurt or kefir topped with fruit and nuts.—
Brittany Poulson,
Verywell Health,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Shake pan to redistribute nuts, and then put it back in oven for another five minutes.—
Kathryn Gregory,
Louisville Courier Journal,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Silliness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silliness. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share