frivolous

adjective

ˈfri-və-ləs How to pronounce frivolous (audio)
Definition of frivolousnext
1
as in minor
lacking importance judges are getting sick of people bringing frivolous lawsuits

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in silly
lacking in seriousness or maturity when asked by the waiter if we wanted anything else that evening, we made a frivolous request for free drinks

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 frivolous That paper trail is your best defense against frivolous damage claims. — Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 27 July 2026 By contrast, to invoke Rule 11 the asserted cause of action has to be frivolous, meaning that there is literally no credible evidence and/or no legal authority to assert the cause of action. — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 The decision followed the Columbia Association's ethics panel concluding that Greenberg, Emery, and Avery filed a frivolous ethics complaint. — Dennis Valera, CBS News, 1 July 2026 Her attorneys argued that the fee award would help to deter frivolous and retaliatory suits against accusers in the future. — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for frivolous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frivolous
  1. minor
  2. silly
  3. small
  4. goofy
  5. little
  6. futile
  7. trivial
  8. giddy
Adjective
  • Other areas of concern are the library system's self-check-out kiosks, instances in which minor teenagers handle materials while working or volunteering at a branch, and platforms for loaning electronic materials, Adams said.
    — Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 28 Aug. 2026
  • His discipline could be minor compared to the hit on his reputation.
    — Jim Reineking, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of minor
Adjective
  • Of course, challenges immediately present themselves, the silliest of which belongs to Samir and Paul Baker.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • In practice, a black-and-white hunk of metal sprinting into a wall looks silly.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of silly
Adjective
  • Instead, contestants compete for crowd reaction and are rewarded with attention and, in some cases, small cash prizes.
    — Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Mix the cornstarch with the cold water in a small bowl to make a smooth slurry.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of small
Adjective
  • Mason was funny, goofy and crazy in all the right ways; he will be remembered for singing and dancing around the house with a wide smile on his face and a skip in his step.
    — Matt Schooley, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • If the movie is more goofy than profound, that may be the point.
    — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of goofy
Adjective
  • Those sea views will keep you company during your workout on the little gym platform overlooking the beach.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Increased regular season importance Arguably the biggest criticism of the current 18-team format is that there was too little reward for teams who demonstrated regular season excellence.
    — Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of little
Adjective
  • The receiving corps is still a question mark, and depending solely on De’Von Achane seems futile.
    — Gladys Louise Tyler, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Named Wilbur by the hive mind of social media, the animal blew up online after resident Jamaal Harrison posted a video to TikTok on Saturday showing his futile attempts to catch it on an e-bike.
    — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of futile
Adjective
  • The trivial and the momentous can be connected; small deviations can set us on larger paths.
    — Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
  • But resorting to litigation rather than negotiating a settlement to this trivial dispute could open a new source of pain.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of trivial
Adjective
  • Central Market, released in 2009, proved that his idiosyncratic melodic sensibility could translate to a more symphonic setting, with the Wordless Music Orchestra giving his giddy, loop-heavy compositions a bustling, bristling density.
    — Reed Jackson, SPIN, 24 Aug. 2026
  • All this scattershot world-building and world-visiting allows for some colorfully diverting vignettes, in which production designer Alexandra Walker and costume designer Ann Maskrey get to show off their giddy, gaudy wares.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of giddy

Browse Nearby Words

frivolity
frivolous
frivolousness
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Cite this Entry

“Frivolous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frivolous. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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