as in showy
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Recent Examples of frilly
Both children wore coordinated pink letterman jackets with white sleeves, with Marilyn wearing a frilly tulle pink skirt and Phoenix in a pair of black jeans.
—
Julia Teti, Footwear News, 21 Jan. 2026
Their big, frilly mouths opened to reveal kaleidoscopic color schemes—electric lime, violet, and yellow—and no two were alike.
—Susan Casey, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
Both the stems and frilly leaves are put to use in this vegetarian-friendly lasagna, complete with layers of noodles, tomatoes, and plenty of mozzarella cheese.
—Riley Wofford, Martha Stewart, 31 Dec. 2025
So don’t let anyone guilt you into staying in Little Mikey’s room, or even the guest room with the frilly pillow shams.
—Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 3 Dec. 2025
That same woman taught embroidery to twentysomethings who were working on their trousseaux—frilly tablecloths and bedsheets for their future homes with their husbands.
—Edwidge Danticat, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025
One side thinks the other person’s view is weak, is too frilly and garnished and adorned.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 23 Nov. 2025
Jolie wears a brown frilly dress and bends down to play with her younger brother, while Jace watches from behind his mom.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025
Christmas table elegance needn't come in a frilly, fussy package.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Nov. 2025
Julia Teti, Footwear News, 21 Jan. 2026
Their big, frilly mouths opened to reveal kaleidoscopic color schemes—electric lime, violet, and yellow—and no two were alike.
—Susan Casey, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
Both the stems and frilly leaves are put to use in this vegetarian-friendly lasagna, complete with layers of noodles, tomatoes, and plenty of mozzarella cheese.
—Riley Wofford, Martha Stewart, 31 Dec. 2025
So don’t let anyone guilt you into staying in Little Mikey’s room, or even the guest room with the frilly pillow shams.
—Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 3 Dec. 2025
That same woman taught embroidery to twentysomethings who were working on their trousseaux—frilly tablecloths and bedsheets for their future homes with their husbands.
—Edwidge Danticat, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025
One side thinks the other person’s view is weak, is too frilly and garnished and adorned.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 23 Nov. 2025
Jolie wears a brown frilly dress and bends down to play with her younger brother, while Jace watches from behind his mom.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025
Christmas table elegance needn't come in a frilly, fussy package.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frilly
Adjective
-
Ralph Reed reminded me that, for Faith & Freedom and many similar conservative organizations, there are no showy national rallies.—
Charles Duhigg,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The service The service is fantastic, but never over the top or showy.—
Megan Spurrell,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Dua Lipa’s shoes complemented an ensemble from the Métiers d’Art collection, a look which was businessy in its silhouette yet flamboyant in its colors and pattern.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Oh, and there’s also a splashy new museum for contemporary art, MICAS, which opened last year with an inaugural exhibition by the flamboyant Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos.—
Anna Grace Lee,
Vogue,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
In the 1990s, Dave and Nadine Lipson purchased the 37,000-acre property and renamed it Paws Up (formerly The Resort at Paws Up) after their dogs’ exuberant greeting.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Ian Roberts, a native of Guyana in South America and a former Olympic runner, ascended as an exuberant and inspiring leader over a two-decade career in urban education.—
Hannah Fingerhut,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
What extravagant actions can a life of astonishing clothes inspire?—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Since the royal Netflix show first premiered in December 2020, fans have fallen in love with its steamy romance, extravagant costumes and wide range of classical covers of some of the biggest pop hits.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Dell is not trying to be ostentatious.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Besides, $500 gets you a pretty decent phone these days — without ostentatious gold and a close affiliation with a president who has a decades-long track record of launching and sinking well over a dozen businesses.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Ryan Weeks writes on how the experiment with digital dollars is falling short of grandiose expectations.—
Ryan Weeks,
Bloomberg,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Privately, Marcos considered his legacy in grandiose terms.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The multiple polygonal recesses and panels and sharp creases throughout the lower half of the front-end are an uninvited reminder about how eager Toyota's design team seems to throw itself into absolute overwrought styling territory.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
16 Jan. 2026
-
The year 2025 was more tumultuous than any silly football game and its accompanying overwrought metaphors.—
Senior Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
When paired with the right boots, leggings can even rise to the level of elegant occasion wear.—
Amber Rambharose,
InStyle,
31 Jan. 2026
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According to interior designers, these four countertop colors are their go-tos for creating modern yet classic spaces that feel elegant and livable.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Frilly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frilly. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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