as in lightness
a lack of seriousness often at an improper time
no one appreciates your flippancy during our religious services
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Recent Examples of flippancy
The flippancy with which these characters are made to bite the dust establishes the film’s combustible tone.
—
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025
We’ve all been cast adrift in the cognitive dissonance between the visceral seriousness of the crime and the abject flippancy of the shooter, the brutality of the shooting and the memes reacting to Kirk’s bigoted views.
—Raven Smith, Vogue, 18 Sep. 2025
For a certain generation, the truth doesn’t really matter less than the myth itself: a legendary rock star treating the world’s most luxurious car with such flippancy on his way to dying too young.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 25 Aug. 2025
There are, at times, flashes of exasperation in her responses to Agnes’ possessiveness or flippancy.
—Jon Frosch, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for flippancy
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 1 Oct. 2025
We’ve all been cast adrift in the cognitive dissonance between the visceral seriousness of the crime and the abject flippancy of the shooter, the brutality of the shooting and the memes reacting to Kirk’s bigoted views.
—Raven Smith, Vogue, 18 Sep. 2025
For a certain generation, the truth doesn’t really matter less than the myth itself: a legendary rock star treating the world’s most luxurious car with such flippancy on his way to dying too young.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 25 Aug. 2025
There are, at times, flashes of exasperation in her responses to Agnes’ possessiveness or flippancy.
—Jon Frosch, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for flippancy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flippancy
Noun
-
This type of footwear brings a sense of lightness to any outfit and works especially well with granny shorts in light colors or soft prints, like a trendy polka-dot or floral design.—
René Chávez Esparza,
Glamour,
9 Mar. 2026
-
That may not sound like much in the modern age of Toyota Camrys having more than 300 horsepower, but the Seven makes up for it in lightness, weighing well under one ton.—
Erik Shilling,
Robb Report,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
His cheerfulness and laughter often brought strength and refreshment to me in difficult times.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Raines replied, her usual cheerfulness stepping up a notch.—
Rebecca Boone,
Fortune,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
On The Late Show, Stephen Colbert could not contain his glee.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The former Nuggets guard danced around Ball Arena with glee throughout a 6-for-7 shooting game and was even bold enough to confront 7-footer Jonas Valanciunas after taking exception to a foul.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The characters’ propensity for ugly faces, silliness and a bit of grossness too, stems from the portrayals of girlhood and young womanhood that appeal to them.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
-
As Mozart, Sam Clemmett is wonderful, carefully navigating the silliness and sullenness of a character who’s been drawn as part boy, part man.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
As an integral member of the central friend group, Gooding brings levity and charm to the gory slasher.—
Juliana Ukiomogbe,
InStyle,
3 Mar. 2026
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Perhaps most importantly, Berger insists that formalist approaches and levity are just as capable of probing religious and sociological subjects as narrative inquiries.—
Theo Belci,
Artforum,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Much of Fleming’s delightful frivolity can be seen in their mishmashed resume.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Comedies are often the also-rans; everyone wants to be taken seriously, and comedies—even the greatest of them, by the likes of Hawks, Preston Sturges, or Billy Wilder—are frequently treated as a frivolity.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flippancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flippancy. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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