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
Utopia Kitchen 4-Pack Airtight Cereal Containers Cereal bags are flimsy, prone to tearing, and don’t hold freshness well, which is why having airtight containers is a great solution.
—
Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2025
Despite assurances from Wall Street banks and TV pundits, the argument for leaning heavily on stocks is a lot flimsier today than before the liftoff, and the appeal of bonds much greater.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 16 Aug. 2025
Moments feel bottled and some narrative flow becomes flimsy because of that.
—Zach Dennis, Charlotte Observer, 15 Aug. 2025
The keys are flimsy and have been reported to break.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flimsy
Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2025
Despite assurances from Wall Street banks and TV pundits, the argument for leaning heavily on stocks is a lot flimsier today than before the liftoff, and the appeal of bonds much greater.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 16 Aug. 2025
Moments feel bottled and some narrative flow becomes flimsy because of that.
—Zach Dennis, Charlotte Observer, 15 Aug. 2025
The keys are flimsy and have been reported to break.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flimsy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flimsy
Adjective
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Yet for all its craft, the film remains airy and unsubstantial, never quite rising to the full potential of its premise.—
Leila Latif,
IndieWire,
31 Aug. 2025
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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
Adjective
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The comedic murder-mystery series following three unlikely neighbors — Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short) and Mabel (Selena Gomez) — who bond over their obsession with true crime podcasts.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
9 Sep. 2025
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The upshot is that France’s fiscal mess is unlikely to be fixed anytime soon.—
Saskya Vandoorne,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Republican lawmakers and state attorneys general have challenged the basis of those recommendations, arguing that the evidence used to support them is insubstantial.—
Selena Simmons-Duffin,
NPR,
1 Aug. 2025
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Vague green claims won’t cut it anymore, as evidenced by a 2020 study from the European Commission, which found over half of environmental claims were insubstantial, misleading or unfounded.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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The giant ginkgo doesn’t change much, but everything around it does, and Enyedi seems determined to show us how fragile, and culturally contingent our idea of reality, really is.—
Leila Latif,
IndieWire,
5 Sep. 2025
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Underwater drones could one day use similar appendages to squeeze into tight spaces, explore fragile ecosystems without damage, or carry out repairs in difficult-to-reach areas.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Sep. 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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Brooklinen’s Airweave cotton quilt, made of 100% Turkish cotton, has a gauzy exterior wrapped around a cotton candy cloud body.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
18 Aug. 2025
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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
Adjective
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Maple and Francesca each opted for dresses, with the former donning a semi-sheer black number and the latter choosing a silky brown slip dress matching her father's color palette.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
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This trend includes smaller, high-end homes and with buyers favoring places that offer meaningful features over sheer size or clout.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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How To Harvest Dill Flowers Dill blossoms deliver strong dill flavor in a delicate, pretty package.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
5 Sep. 2025
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Liu’s work often merges corsetry, delicate smocking, and floral motifs with a romantic yet subversive edge.—
Essence,
Essence,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flimsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flimsy. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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