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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of frivolity
This May the Eleventh Circuit denied him relief from a $25,000 Tax Court frivolity penalty.
—
Peter J Reilly, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
And to be brought here to discover the one-night-only production of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, directed by Rob Ashford for the Tangiers Charity Plays—as well as all manner of attendant frivolities—is the icing on the cake.
—Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 18 July 2025
This grand vision opposes fanboy frivolity, which is the basis of Gunn’s commercialized version.
—Armond White, National Review, 11 July 2025
Doris is practical, independent, and has no time for frivolities — and she’s passed those qualities onto her daughter Susan (Natalie Wood).
—Sezín Devi Koehler, EW.com, 6 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for frivolity
Peter J Reilly, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
And to be brought here to discover the one-night-only production of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, directed by Rob Ashford for the Tangiers Charity Plays—as well as all manner of attendant frivolities—is the icing on the cake.
—Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 18 July 2025
This grand vision opposes fanboy frivolity, which is the basis of Gunn’s commercialized version.
—Armond White, National Review, 11 July 2025
Doris is practical, independent, and has no time for frivolities — and she’s passed those qualities onto her daughter Susan (Natalie Wood).
—Sezín Devi Koehler, EW.com, 6 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for frivolity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frivolity
Noun
-
Her film holds a rare balance of lightness and depth, moving originally between humor and vulnerability without ever losing emotional truth.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
27 Oct. 2025
-
The frontier dissolves into the lightness of air, and the world is full of holes.—
Henry Freedland,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Some hijinks and silliness happen.—
Charles Infosino,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
23 Oct. 2025
-
As Theodore Logan, Keanu Reeves found the perfect vessel for his serene silliness, playing well off Alex Winter’s equally clueless Bill.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Swinging from the overhanging branches and darting through the woods, the animals were heading toward a nearby housing project, their pink faces lit with glee.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Hanlon wasn’t trying to hide his glee.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
As Milchick, Tillman infused an unnerving cheerfulness into Lumon Industries’ macrodata refinement supervisor, a character who became increasingly central in Season 2.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
15 Sep. 2025
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Her vivacious attitude connects her with Aries (Stacey’s actual birthday is April 3) due to her fearlessness and cheerfulness in situations, no matter what is thrown at her.—
Lisa Stardust,
People.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Making room for levity is, then, a way of admitting the human—not through the granular and intimate detail that lends Ferrante’s novels their power but through a broader concession to nature.—
Lily Meyer,
The Atlantic,
31 Oct. 2025
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In a beat of levity that carries new weight, Geralt quietly curses afterward.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
This flippancy may have more than a little to do with the freediving community’s attitude toward Šobat’s breath-holding achievements.—
Sean Williams,
Outside,
27 Oct. 2025
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The flippancy with which these characters are made to bite the dust establishes the film’s combustible tone.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Frivolity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frivolity. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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