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
Relevance
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
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 flimsy
Citing alarmingly flimsy evidence, the government claimed these individuals were members of a violent gang.
—
Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2025
Gone are the days of sweating in heavy sneakers and tripping over flimsy flip-flops.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 24 Apr. 2025
Makeshift tents fill the crammed courtyard, the solid edifice of the church overlooking the flimsy havens.
—Cnn’s Abeer Salman and Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2025
This suggests the president and those close to him believe the topic is a political winner, even though the legality of deporting Abrego Garcia to El Salvador seems extremely flimsy.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flimsy
Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2025
Gone are the days of sweating in heavy sneakers and tripping over flimsy flip-flops.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 24 Apr. 2025
Makeshift tents fill the crammed courtyard, the solid edifice of the church overlooking the flimsy havens.
—Cnn’s Abeer Salman and Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2025
This suggests the president and those close to him believe the topic is a political winner, even though the legality of deporting Abrego Garcia to El Salvador seems extremely flimsy.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flimsy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flimsy
Adjective
-
The hit isn’t unsubstantial: In 2024, textile exports to the United States accounted for 10.7 percent of China’s total textile exports, valued at $14.8 billion, and 22.7 percent of China’s total apparel exports, or $36.1 billion’s worth.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
5 May 2025
-
The algorithm fed the Giants pitcher a savory yet unsubstantial diet of short-form content.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Not cut out for heroics, inept ant soldiers Arnie and Barney decide to tackle the problem by themselves, inadvertently becoming the most unlikely of heroes in the process.—
Ed Meza,
Variety,
19 May 2025
-
In markets like the U.S. and the U.K., government bonds have historically been considered safe investments, as the governments were considered highly unlikely to default on their debts.—
Chloe Taylor,Holly Ellyatt,Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
19 May 2025
Adjective
-
Trump and Musk are truly onions made of glass: shiny orbs of one insubstantial layer over another, with nothing in the center, liable to be shattered under the slightest pressure.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Nineteen is certainly a lot lower than 42, but, um, 19 over the course of 94 episodes of television is not exactly and insubstantial amount.—
Jordan Hoffman,
EW.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Even in the best of times, long-term observations can be very fragile.—
Eric Morgan,
Wired News,
10 May 2025
-
Fiber optic cable, in my opinion, is more fragile than traditional solid-copper coaxial cable.—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
10 May 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
Kerry Washington Kerry Washington looked chic in a baby pink ensemble that played to our love of textures, pairing a high-neck, lace top with a gauzy skirt embellished with pink pearls over a shiny skirt.—
Erin Jensen,
USA TODAY,
23 Feb. 2025
-
There’s a nostalgic maximalism to its designs, which are usually gauzy pastel pinks, blues, and whites; covered in ditsy prints like rosebuds, daisies, and strawberries; and detailed with flourishes like ruffles and bows.—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Secrets of the Thrift Kidney's strategy centers on knowledge, patience, and sheer time investment.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 May 2025
-
Cyrus released the single alongside a black-and-white video that sways from footage of the singer dripping in crystals to wearing a long, classic dress and toward the end, wearing a somber black coat with sheer fabric covering her face.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
9 May 2025
Adjective
-
Wirtz is focused more on the micro, with delicate touches and deft flicks, compared to Szoboszlai’s macro traits of energy and power.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
-
The walls of the rectum (the inside of your butt) are delicate.—
Alexander Cheves,
Them.,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flimsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flimsy. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share