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

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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 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 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 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
  • There was sheer joy — Warren Barton once instructed Keegan to perform press-ups on the touchline during a game at St James’ for calling a throw-in the wrong way.
    — Michael Walker, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Just across the street from the bus stop … lurks a deep drainage pool at the bottom of a sheer 12-foot drop from the street.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of sheer
Adjective
  • The dishes are a light and succulent reinterpretation of Menorca’s gastronomic heritage with an emphasis on seafood and a delicate French accent.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Denker had a study done, based on races that took place on Belle Isle in Michigan, showing that IndyCars racing at full speed wouldn’t damage buildings more delicate than the ones around the Mall.
    — Adam Kilgore, New York Times, 20 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 23 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of flimsy for Spanish Speakers

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