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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flimsy
There was a lot of trying to win free kicks, a lot of hitting long balls and a lot of frantic running in various directions, like kids chasing a flimsy, corner-shop ball around a playground, but very little sense of what anyone’s purpose was.
—
Tim Spiers, New York Times, 22 May 2025
What rescues the movie from being mere flimsy fun is Rutherford’s performance.
—Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 21 May 2025
However, the flimsy handle and the subpar squeegee blade give me strong reservations.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2025
Stretch bands are a great option, but can be flimsy and a little awkward, especially since the resistance levels increase as the band is stretched.
—Matt Parrott, Arkansas Online, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for flimsy
Tim Spiers, New York Times, 22 May 2025
What rescues the movie from being mere flimsy fun is Rutherford’s performance.
—Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 21 May 2025
However, the flimsy handle and the subpar squeegee blade give me strong reservations.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2025
Stretch bands are a great option, but can be flimsy and a little awkward, especially since the resistance levels increase as the band is stretched.
—Matt Parrott, Arkansas Online, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for flimsy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flimsy
Adjective
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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
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The algorithm fed the Giants pitcher a savory yet unsubstantial diet of short-form content.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Ultimately, though, the Trump ally argued there was unlikely to be a single new face of DOGE.—
Alex Gangitano,
The Hill,
31 May 2025
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All were unlikely beneficiaries this week of pardons, with President Donald Trump flexing his executive power to bestow clemency on political allies, prominent public figures and others convicted of defrauding the public.—
Eric Tucker,
Chicago Tribune,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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Oyun-Erdene warned before the confidence vote that a change in government could threaten Mongolia’s fragile democracy, which only started in the early 1990s after the Soviet Union collapsed.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
3 June 2025
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That’s where trust can become fragile if leaders start to chase proxies instead of performance.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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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
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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
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The White Lotus star accessorized with sheer lace gloves and bright pink sunglasses.—
Catherine Santino,
People.com,
3 June 2025
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Even so, the sheer variety of different tasks—and the ways those tasks are presented in different parts of the game's massive map—should keep the P-Switch hunt from feeling dull or rote.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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The floral motifs created a garden of light against the shimmering teal backdrop for a dramatic, yet delicate look.—
Pooja Shah,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
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Lorenza Rosé, $23 Year after year, the Lorenza team produces a rosé that's both light and delicate while still being chock-full of flavor and personality.—
Seth Eli Barlow,
Arkansas Online,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flimsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flimsy. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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