1
as in goofy
lacking in seriousness or maturity
the matinee show was filled with a bunch of silly children making noise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stupid
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment
those silly movie producers who thought that audiences would fall for that gimmick all over again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in ridiculous
so foolish or pointless as to be worthy of scornful laughter
had the silly notion that her latest marriage might last longer than her three previous ones
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in bewildered
suffering from mental confusion
stunning news that knocked me silly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in simpleton
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of silly
Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026
The production duo’s busy, silly, next-gen footwork hashes underground rap microgenres and recognizable samples into dreamy collagist fantasies.
—Rae-Aila Crumble, Pitchfork, 26 Jan. 2026
Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 17 Sep. 2025
It was shot in portrait because it was shot in Instagram by and for a woman who was losing her mind in quarantine and had fully let the sillies take the wheel.
—Ego Nwodim, TIME, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for silly
Adjective
The silly letter that Silverstone's childhood friend had saved was written when the actress was 15.
—Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026
The production duo’s busy, silly, next-gen footwork hashes underground rap microgenres and recognizable samples into dreamy collagist fantasies.
—Rae-Aila Crumble, Pitchfork, 26 Jan. 2026
Noun
But no, sillies: Bradley is white, famous and pretty — no jail time for her!
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 17 Sep. 2025
It was shot in portrait because it was shot in Instagram by and for a woman who was losing her mind in quarantine and had fully let the sillies take the wheel.
—Ego Nwodim, TIME, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for silly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silly
Adjective
-
Sabrina Carpenter’s song about guys being goofy and Bad Bunny’s single about wishing to be more present in fleeting moments might’ve been more pertinent to a rough last year animated by masculine aggression.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The Broward County rapper serves a goofy mash-up of Haitian party music and regional drug rap.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
What happens, though, when those excesses transcend the merely stupid, the merely unjust, to become existential?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
People who approve of ICE’s actions aren’t necessarily stupid or evil.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Drinks come in ridiculous glasses—like a copper bathtub complete with a rubber ducky—the music is blasting, and the entire restaurant is there to have a good time.—
Molly Barstein,
Vogue,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Like, who’s being the most ridiculous?—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The usually positive Gauff went negative, lacked energy and seemed bewildered and overwhelmed.—
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Since his starring days at Gonzaga, Timme has earned bewildered double takes.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Gamble, seeing there was no way to get anywhere with the chancellor playing the simpleton, opened the floor to softball questions.—
Thomas Meaney,
Harper's Magazine,
26 Apr. 2024
-
His competition was Forrest Gump, a feel-good studio drama that located America’s soul in a sweet simpleton played by Tom Hanks.—
Michael Schulman,
Vulture,
21 Feb. 2023
Adjective
-
That’s why Adams wasn’t exactly giddy when the road-warrior Rams defeated the Carolina Panthers in the Wild Card round or the Chicago Bears in last weekend’s Divisional Round.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
24 Jan. 2026
-
There is regret for not having spent more time in Rwanda’s beautiful capital, a mounting excitement about entering its wildscapes, and the giddy anticipation for my first sighting of a mountain gorilla in its natural habitat.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The idea of giving that over to a robot seems foolish [and] boring.—
Melinda Newman,
Billboard,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Black people cast and produced to look stupid and foolish as standard operating procedure.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
These politicians who are in their 80s and now 90s continuing to run for office is absurd.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Rates are soaring at absurd levels, but what’s worse is what many homeowners are getting in return — less coverage, fewer payouts and other negative effects.—
Dave Lieber,
Dallas Morning News,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Silly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silly. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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