as in lightness
a lack of seriousness often at an improper time
the boys were scolded for joking during the funeral service, which was hardly the time for frivolity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 frivolity
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
Credit cards are not tools of frivolity.
—Matthew Kandrach, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Anya’s friends were the ones headed for the East Coast, some even to Ivy League schools, eager to leave behind the frivolity of Los Angeles.
—Nell Freudenberger, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for frivolity
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
Credit cards are not tools of frivolity.
—Matthew Kandrach, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Anya’s friends were the ones headed for the East Coast, some even to Ivy League schools, eager to leave behind the frivolity of Los Angeles.
—Nell Freudenberger, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for frivolity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frivolity
Noun
-
There’s a lightness to it in that respect.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
21 Apr. 2026
-
With their everyday wear, the rings are streamlined to showcase steel’s lightness and comfort — and their stackable design allows for layered wear for mixing-and-matching.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Time to stop the silliness with the opener and start him.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Levy and Taylor Ortega play disorganized siblings who get thrust into the world of organized crime, a departure from the world of Schitt’s Creek, but still maintains the silliness and fun of a Dan Levy show.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
New York with aplomb, expressing glee about the network being able to keep the project a secret.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Laptop twee tries to pretend those simpler times are accessible, which makes for exaggerated, juvenile glee—a dishonest document of 2026, but a wildly appealing one.—
Samuel Hyland,
Pitchfork,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As a teen-ager listening to folk music in London pubs, I’d been attracted to the instrument’s nimble, tinkling cheerfulness, its being on the margins, not too demanding, perhaps.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Lastly, yellow tulips symbolize cheerfulness, happiness, and optimism.—
Michelle Mastro,
Architectural Digest,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Chiwetel Ejiofor's ability to provide levity with a straight face makes this film an underrated gem in his and Hathaway's filmographies.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
-
These include positive energy and inspiration, selflessness, continuous learning, grit, levity, and stewardship.—
Anand Kumar,
STAT,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Let effort speak louder than frivolousness.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Meanwhile, the unironic, light-hearted rom-com has been replaced with cynicism and flippancy.—
Meg Walters,
Glamour,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Crucial here is that the markets confirm the flippancy found in the previous question, and much more importantly, would have confirmed it then if anyone had been asking.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Frivolity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frivolity. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
