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

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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

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 That can lead to structural problems, from drawer fronts pulling off to flimsy drawer bottoms sagging or falling out under the weight of their contents. — Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 14 Aug. 2026 Catios that only cost a few hundred dollars are generally flimsy and won't last long or truly protect against predators. — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026 An unassuming woman waltzed through their offices and allegedly robbed the institution of $15 million, armed not with a weapon, but flimsy paperwork and a basket of pies. — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026 Blanche will face tough decisions over whether to press forward with charging notable enemies of the president, with previous sets of charges often facing criticism from legal experts for being based on flimsy legal arguments. — Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 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
  • The two most prominent, Hebrew and Yiddish, have always been unlikely bedfellows, frequently fighting with each other.
    — Ilan Stavans, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Initial support is near the breakout point around $660, although a pullback of that magnitude is unlikely.
    — Katie Stockton, CNBC, 31 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
  • When their ailing mother comes to live with them, old resentments resurface, forcing both women to confront grief, faith, ambition, and the fragile bonds that hold a family together.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The characters aren’t simply vulnerable—they’re contradictory and fragile.
    — Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of fragile
Adjective
  • As with anything related to Meghan and Harry, even the most gossamer threads of gossip quickly ignited, and news of Meghan’s mysterious new role spread across multiple continents.
    — K.J. Yossman, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026
  • But a gossamer jacket tossed over a swimsuit on a breezy evening?
    — Jennifer Noyes, Air Mail, 25 Apr. 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
  • The facts of his biography, no matter how outrageous, could not possibly explain the sheer derangement of his output.
    — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
  • This means investor scrutiny will extend beyond the sheer scale of AI investment to encompass debt burdens, capital costs, and return timelines.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of sheer
Adjective
  • Marcus called the procedure an important first step toward reducing risks during delicate brain operations.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Elordi’s soft-spoken performance, paired with his delicate and awkward features, provides a nice contrast with Brolin’s tree-stump obduracy.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of delicate

Browse Nearby Words

flimsiness
flimsy
flinch
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Cite this Entry

“Flimsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flimsy. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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