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Does flippant Have a Positive or Negative Connotation?
Flippant is believed to come from flip, which, in turn, is a supposed imitation of the sound of something flipping. The earliest senses of the adjective are "nimble" and "limber." One can be flippant not only on one's feet but in speech—that is to say, their words flow easily. Such flippancy was considered a good thing at first; however, people who speak freely can sometimes seem too talkative, and even impertinent. The positive sense of flippant has slipped from use, but the "disrespectful" sense still flows.
Synonyms
Examples of flippant in a Sentence
Mordecai Richler, GQ, November 1997
… although she is neither solemn nor pontifical, she may be the least flippant advice columnist in the business.
—Ray Olson, Booklist, 1 May 1991
Despite its flippant name, the Greed Index has proven a remarkably prescient barometer of the market during the past 16 years.
—Richard E. Rustin, Wall Street Journal, 29 May 1984
He made a flippant response to a serious question.
his flippant comment that the poor save on taxes offended many people
R29 Team, refinery29.com, 24 June 2024
Hughes’ mother, Shirley, told TMZ Thursday she was disturbed by the remark, particularly the flippant way Grande laughed at the topic of Dahmer and didn’t seem to show any empathy for the victims’ families.
—Evan Rosen, New York Daily News, 27 June 2024
The Giants’ standing remark on Odell Beckham Jr.’s significance to the franchise, remember, was an unforgettably flippant statement from former GM Dave Gettleman.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 19 Mar. 2024
One person on the boat apologized, while a classmate brushed it off with a flippant response when Local 10 asked him about the incident.
—Chris Eberhart, Fox News, 3 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for flippant 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flippant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near flippant
Cite this Entry
“Flippant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flippant. Accessed 15 Sep. 2024.
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flippant
adjective
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