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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flimsy
Since the ruling, several GOP governors, including Georgia’s Brian Kemp, have called special legislative sessions to draw maps that dilute Black voting power while following the Court’s direction to hide behind the flimsy cover of partisanship.
—
Michael Cunningham, AJC.com, 4 June 2026
The small gear selector feels disappointingly flimsy considering the otherwise upmarket presentation.
—Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Protective measures range from trimming at-risk tree branches to replacing flimsy exterior doors with stronger ones.
—Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Another thing to consider is that worn rugs often have flimsy edges that won't completely lie flat on a floor, which gives off an incomplete look for a space.
—Jane Kim, The Spruce, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for flimsy
Michael Cunningham, AJC.com, 4 June 2026
The small gear selector feels disappointingly flimsy considering the otherwise upmarket presentation.
—Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Protective measures range from trimming at-risk tree branches to replacing flimsy exterior doors with stronger ones.
—Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Another thing to consider is that worn rugs often have flimsy edges that won't completely lie flat on a floor, which gives off an incomplete look for a space.
—Jane Kim, The Spruce, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for flimsy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flimsy
Adjective
-
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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But as the trial approached, both plaintiff and defendant sources indicated that a mid-trial settlement was unlikely.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Dec. 2025
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The race to the bottom has been so ferocious this year that Beijing stepped in to rein in manufacturers, though economists believe deflationary pressures are unlikely to ease soon.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
11 Dec. 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
-
Bringing the franchise to TV — with the investment that implies — represents a not-insubstantial risk for a network that, some six years after entering the Disney stable, is riding high.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
23 July 2025
Adjective
-
Fructose comes in big, hearty branches of oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon; esters, the microscopic compounds that make melon melony and grapes grapey, are much more fragile.—
Ellen Cushing,
The Atlantic,
11 June 2026
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The latest claims come after a week of tit-for-tat strikes that strained an already fragile ceasefire reached in April.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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But a gossamer jacket tossed over a swimsuit on a breezy evening?—
Jennifer Noyes,
Air Mail,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The type of memory flashbacks that are shot at knee level, gauzy and out of focus, with a gossamer visual touch to conjure whispering, buried emotions of the past.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Stylistically, these books are often surreal and oneiric, with the gauzy texture of childhood reverie.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
There’s a gauzy sense of misty wonderment that unifies many of the works but there’s also a sense of detail and clarity amid the clouds that European impressionists from Turner to Degas would appreciate.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
24 May 2026
Adjective
-
A’ja Wilson is a picture of sheer joy and utter domination.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
10 Dec. 2025
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Use sheer curtains to filter the light if needed.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
9 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Decent, albeit a bit soggy and delicate in flavor.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
11 June 2026
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Available in 16 summer-ready colors, the sweater top brings an elegant twist to your wardrobe with its dramatic sleeves, throwback boxy silhouette, and delicate ruffle detailing.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flimsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flimsy. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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