flimsy

adjective

ˈflim-zē How to pronounce flimsy (audio)
Definition of flimsynext
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

Relevance

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of flimsy Their flimsy frame is made of a strip of beige plastic, with the display covering only one eye. — Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 6 Aug. 2026 Breezy without feeling flimsy, this short-sleeve button-down and straight-leg pant duo keeps things light and comfy throughout the day. — Paris Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 2 Aug. 2026 Cheap tripods are often flimsy and can fall over and wiggle from a light breeze. — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026 White button-down shirts have both star power and staying power, but the key is to choose one that isn’t sheer or flimsy. — Tanya Sharma, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for flimsy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flimsy
  1. unsubstantial
  2. unlikely
  3. insubstantial
  4. fragile
  5. gossamer
  6. gauzy
  7. sheer
  8. delicate
Adjective
  • Roadmaps are frequently high-level and unsubstantial.
    — Peter Bendor-Samuel, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
  • 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
Definition of unsubstantial
Adjective
  • Tottenham Hotspur’s Lucas Bergvall has also featured during discussions, but Newcastle baulked at the asking price and a move for the 20-year-old seems unlikely.
    — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Simon Baughen, Professor of Shipping Law at Swansea University, said the path toward claiming Hormuz as a US territory was unlikely to come to fruition.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of unlikely
Adjective
  • But too few of those ideas yield satisfying conclusions, resulting in a drama that becomes treacly and insubstantial, reaching for a profundity that remains elusive.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
  • The wall was as insubstantial as a set on a film studio’s back lot.
    — Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Definition of insubstantial
Adjective
  • The latter can be ceramic (which is unfortunately fragile), steel (usually with a protective chrome finish) or wood.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Construction accidents are common in India, where rapid infrastructure growth often collides with fragile geology, construction lapses, extreme weather and safety standards.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of fragile
Adjective
  • 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
Definition of gossamer
Adjective
  • Most of the time, senators exercising this role must rely on gauzy assurances and strained analogies to the candidate’s performance in previous positions.
    — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The late-morning sun peeked through a gauzy veil of fog, bright laughter echoing over the giddy whisper of tulle as the brides posed for pictures outside the Santa Barbara County Courthouse.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of gauzy
Adjective
  • Other governments, including the US, have their own rules and disclosure requirements, but beyond the breadth of the controls in China, the sheer number of people affected is striking – and reaches far beyond civil servants.
    — Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Just look at the new stand — the sheer size of it shows the club’s ambition.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of sheer
Adjective
  • While the use of AI in the filmmaking process remains a delicate topic in Hollywood, Wall Street has a more straightforwardly Darwinian view.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Sculptural bangles and bold cuffs are replacing delicate jewelry, whether stacked or balanced on both wrists.
    — Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of delicate

Browse Nearby Words

flimsiness
flimsy
flinch
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Flimsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flimsy. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on flimsy

Nglish: Translation of flimsy for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of divulge

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All