FRIVOLOUS Synonyms: 129 Similar and Opposite Words

frivolous

adjective

ˈfri-və-ləs

Definition of frivolous

as in minor

lacking importance judges are getting sick of people bringing frivolous lawsuits

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 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 This is the wrong time for a baseball stadium — or anything that looks frivolous or smacks of cronyism. — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for frivolous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for frivolous

Adjective

Advertising, a minor revenue stream before 2024, is expected to grow to around 15% of revenue by 2028.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Aug. 2026
The plane sustained minor damage but landed safely at Hannover Airport instead.

— Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of minor

Adjective

Every season of Strange New Worlds has featured at least one episode that emphasizes Star Trek’s silly side (and this may not be the last such outing in season four).

— Keith Phipps, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2026
The silly yellow fruit that became a part of their culture was freighted, from the start, with suggestive meaning.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of silly

Adjective

These vines will also happily wind their way around tree trunks and shrubs and fix themselves in place with small rootlets that take on a hairy appearance as poison ivy plants mature.

— Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Aug. 2026
Tidy a corner and play a favorite song, letting a small routine remind everyone that care comes through simple, repeatable acts.

— Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of small

Adjective

Orlando’s best chance of the first half came in the 31st minute when Simone Jackson hit the crossbar, but the Pride managed little else going forward and went into the break trailing.

— Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2026
An apologetic statement this week and commitment to not letting history repeat itself has, though, done little to placate the intensifying scrutiny of his leadership.

— Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of little

Adjective

Doors and windows are rendered unopenable by some outside force; attempts to break the glass prove likewise futile.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
The Chargers’ search for an impactful ground game has been futile since Gordon ran for the last of his career high in yards.

— Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of futile

Adjective

Small entries compound like deposits in an account; one observation is trivial, but a season of them adds up to a complete, specific picture that no year-end memory could match.

— James Glover, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Justice John Dixon said Bauer Media had failed to show the claims made about Wilson were substantially true or trivial.

— Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 22 July 2026

Definition of trivial

Adjective

Bailey and Hedges should be giddy about programming PitchCom to account for everything their new battery mate can toss their way.

— Zack Meisel, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Most appealing of all are those moments at which McLoughlin turns into an eager chatelaine, not so much dropping names as introducing them to one another, in the hope of a giddy intellectual chemistry.

— Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of giddy

Browse Nearby Words

frivolity

frivolous

frivolousness

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Frivolous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frivolous. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of frivolous

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on frivolous

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

baptism of fire

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes