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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Whether this particular initiative will materialize remains to be seen, but even without it Jordan is positioning itself as the unlikely runner-up in electromobility after Norway, with great relevance for countries around the world.—
Mattias Goldmann,
Forbes.com,
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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By the time Trump met Kim for a second summit in Hanoi, Trump’s attention had drifted from North Korea, and both men’s greed for a quick deal derailed their fragile progress.—
John Delury,
Foreign Affairs,
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 sheer emotional momentum of being part of something—a sea of people unified by purpose—dissipates into the static of daily life.—
Adam Met,
Time,
3 June 2025
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Johnson paired the look with sheer black tights, giving the ensemble a unified tonal element overall.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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The name angel pie gives a few of this dessert's secrets away: The crust is a super delicate meringue that's crisp on the outside but marshmallowy on the inside.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
8 June 2025
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He was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome, had delicate surgery and was sidelined 11 months.—
Chuck Murr,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flimsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flimsy. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.
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