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
The kind of love that’s coming to you now isn’t flimsy.
—
Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 21 Sep. 2025
Case against Soliman 'flimsy,' lawyer says With his asylum protection restored, Soliman will seek to rebuild his life in the United States, according to his attorney, Robert Ratliff.
—Patricia Gallagher Newberry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 20 Sep. 2025
Scummy grout, broken tiles, flimsy doors and bad lighting.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 18 Sep. 2025
These tools are thin, flimsy, and built with barbed notches on the side that are used to grabbing hair and break through soap scum or other debris to remove them from your drain.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flimsy
Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 21 Sep. 2025
Case against Soliman 'flimsy,' lawyer says With his asylum protection restored, Soliman will seek to rebuild his life in the United States, according to his attorney, Robert Ratliff.
—Patricia Gallagher Newberry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 20 Sep. 2025
Scummy grout, broken tiles, flimsy doors and bad lighting.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 18 Sep. 2025
These tools are thin, flimsy, and built with barbed notches on the side that are used to grabbing hair and break through soap scum or other debris to remove them from your drain.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flimsy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flimsy
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
Instead, multiple Chiefs missed a chance at a pick, and the Jaguars scored a touchdown after given the unlikely reprieve.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Okay, take a flier on Bourne if Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings are out again, but that sounds unlikely.—
Jake Ciely,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
Netanyahu, meanwhile, stands accused of having repeatedly turned down earlier deals with Hamas to appease extreme elements within his fragile coalition government.—
Romina Ruiz-Goiriena,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
-
With new tariffs, shifting brand strategies and a fragile financial system, the stakes could not be higher for Bangladesh in 2025.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
3 Oct. 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
-
The smocked bodice hugs just right without feeling tight, and the gauzy cotton moves beautifully—light and breathable enough for even the stickiest summer days.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Sep. 2025
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The post was accompanied by a new video for the song, in which Cyrus wears a gauzy white headdress and matching diaphanous, flowing gown, as well as a black dress matched with a sparkling black mask.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The sheer expanse of places to see in Japan is astounding.—
Kristin Braswell,
AFAR Media,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Sources of succor and disquiet—currents which Winter has ridden in life and art—each female elder is a maternal presence who offers complementary textures to the tapestry Winter has woven from threads of experience and sheer imagination.—
Guillermo Perez,
Miami Herald,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
This delicate stocking reminds us of the ones from our grandparents that were hand stitched with love every year.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
2 Oct. 2025
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As for glam and accessories, Jackson favored delicate rings, bracelet and dangle earrings in warm tones to augment her red dress.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flimsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flimsy. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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