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
Just like flimsy wire and plastic hangers have no place in your closet, neither do bulky ones.
—
Abbie Harrison, Martha Stewart, 3 Feb. 2026
At first, its proliferation seemed to constitute a typical case of Hollywood copycatting; Big Little Lies becomes a smash, wins eight Emmys, begets flimsy imitations that lots of people watch anyway.
—Judy Berman, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
Early warning is rudimentary and community liaison mechanisms are flimsy.
—Obi Anyadike, semafor.com, 26 Jan. 2026
More than 500 Club Brugge supporters made the journey of almost 3,700 miles to watch Tuesday’s tie with the trio in the stands stripping down to the flimsy luminous green costume before being taken away by police.
—Reuters, NBC news, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flimsy
Abbie Harrison, Martha Stewart, 3 Feb. 2026
At first, its proliferation seemed to constitute a typical case of Hollywood copycatting; Big Little Lies becomes a smash, wins eight Emmys, begets flimsy imitations that lots of people watch anyway.
—Judy Berman, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
Early warning is rudimentary and community liaison mechanisms are flimsy.
—Obi Anyadike, semafor.com, 26 Jan. 2026
More than 500 Club Brugge supporters made the journey of almost 3,700 miles to watch Tuesday’s tie with the trio in the stands stripping down to the flimsy luminous green costume before being taken away by police.
—Reuters, NBC news, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flimsy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flimsy
Adjective
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This can alter the amount and types of ACE-inhibiting peptides created during fermentation2—and possibly account for kombucha's unsubstantial effect on blood pressure.—
MD Published,
Verywell Health,
27 Dec. 2025
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Then again … This really does sum up Reeves’s unsubstantial performance as Jonathan Harker, whose new client is definitely up to no good.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Rufe said the federal government was unlikely to succeed at trial.—
TASSANEE VEJPONGSA,
Arkansas Online,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Even if a blockade in the Strait remains unlikely, disruption caused by a US attack could nevertheless send oil prices even higher, above their the recent gains – perhaps by another $10 a barrel, Tuttle said.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Scarlet’s good intentions to end wars by way of sheer determination to do what’s right might prove insubstantial in practice.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Oliver Rackham, the great historian of the British countryside, devoted a not insubstantial portion of his career to rebutting this claim, noting that there is no evidence whatsoever to suggest that these punishments were ever carried out.—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Treading a fine line in Venezuela’s power struggle The amnesty push comes against the backdrop of Venezuela’s fragile post-Maduro landscape, with the acting government under Rodríguez navigating US pressure, economic challenges and calls for stability.—
Alessandra Freitas,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
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Last year, thanks to a Prebys Healing Through the Arts grant, Resounding Joy brought music to 50 participants in Mama’s Kitchen’s senior nutrition program, which delivers free meals to homebound medically fragile seniors in need.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Perverts By turns a budding chart sensation, a political firebrand, and an enthusiastic cataloguer of cryptids, Ethel Cain interrupts a stream of gossamer pop, folk, and rock records with Perverts, a droning rejection of the accessibility of her 2022 Billboard top-ten debut Preacher’s Daughter.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
2 Dec. 2025
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The phrase Silk Road evokes caravans on the horizon spinning a colossal web across the desert, with mountains of gossamer fabrics, ideologies, and discoveries ferried from China to Europe and back.—
Sarah Khan,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Nov. 2022
Adjective
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The dramatic moment came from her oversized hat, featuring a massive brim with a gauzy white veil and a butterflies fixed on top.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
20 Jan. 2026
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These aren’t just gauzy tales from the past.—
Franklin Foer,
The Atlantic,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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For something a bit more romantic, grab a set of sheer lace curtains for just $11.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
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The sheer number of potential new species illustrates just how little of Argentina’s deep-sea biodiversity has been explored — and how much there is left to protect.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Each of the time zones Pascal Soriot operates in has offered vivid reminders of the delicate balancing act global business leaders must perform as the world economy transforms around them.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
20 Feb. 2026
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Obama wore her delicate braids in a high ponytail, showcasing a pair of large diamond studs, while her makeup consisted of a smoky eye, pops of coral blush, and a glossy lip.—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flimsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flimsy. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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