1
as in unsubstantial
being of a material lacking in sturdiness or substance
a flimsy scarf that was more for decoration than for warmth
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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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Recent Examples of flimsy
The team is now knotted with the Denver Nuggets by record, 48-32, and currently the No. 5 seed in a crowded Western Conference playoff picture.
Sacramento, meanwhile, has done just enough to secure a flimsy hold on the ninth seed in the West, with a middling 39-41 record.
—
David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Apr. 2025
While compact, some hanging toiletry bags are flimsy and become lumpy when filled to capacity.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025
The notes seemed able to withstand water well and without getting flimsy.
—ArsTechnica, 10 Apr. 2025
In the fourth, there was more miscommunication in the pick-and-roll between Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart that led to a turnover and flimsy possession.
—James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flimsy
David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Apr. 2025
While compact, some hanging toiletry bags are flimsy and become lumpy when filled to capacity.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025
The notes seemed able to withstand water well and without getting flimsy.
—ArsTechnica, 10 Apr. 2025
In the fourth, there was more miscommunication in the pick-and-roll between Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart that led to a turnover and flimsy possession.
—James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flimsy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flimsy
Adjective
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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
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Salads Salads don’t have to feel flimsy or unsubstantial.—
Katie Workman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Sep. 2023
Adjective
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Yet such clashes are unlikely as regular-season games in the U.S.—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
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Matt Shaw was 1-for-13 in his first four games at Iowa, so the rookie who started in Japan is unlikely to return from Des Moines any time soon.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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YouTube videos as addictive and insubstantial as cotton candy needed my immediate intervention.—
Michael Alcée,
Hartford Courant,
13 Apr. 2025
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Bashar was an ophthalmology student in London, a weak-chinned introvert who was widely seen as a bit insubstantial.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
The New Yorker,
27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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In public comments to the federal agency, city leaders stressed how the Big Easy's already fragile, aging drinking water infrastructure would have trouble withstanding the impacts if the 2024 sill were to breach.—
Kati Weis,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2025
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Automation reduces labor dependency, stabilizes production costs, and ends our reliance on fragile, offshore supply chains.—
Cam Myers,
Sourcing Journal,
28 Apr. 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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Teams from outside England also seem to struggle with Arsenal’s sheer athleticism — certainly Real Madrid struggled to keep pace with their physical output in the quarter-final.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2025
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The sheer volume of potential solutions in the consideration set has caused a bit of AI paralysis.—
Tim Houlne,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Soft and delicate fragrances of spring flowers and mandarins.—
Tom Mullen,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
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Hoffman recalls of including the delicate destination nods.—
David Foxley,
Architectural Digest,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flimsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flimsy. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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