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 Does the ingredient list look promising, based on our collective decades spent interviewing chemists about the difference between capable ingredients and frivolous ones? — Elizabeth Siegel, Allure, 17 Sep. 2026 Strand cautioned Owens that his lack of legal representation doesn’t shield him from future sanctions for making frivolous claims. — Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 9 Sep. 2026 You could be tempted to dismiss a creative venture or categorize a social invite as frivolous, all because there are more productive things to do. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026 Credit as a coping mechanism - Rossman pushes back on the idea that Gen Z debt comes from frivolous spending. — Andreina Rodriguez, CNBC, 1 Sep. 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
  • There were other, more minor, signs that suggested the Republican senator might be in trouble.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 4 Nov. 2026
  • In the case of a minor stroke, which is often referred to as a transient ischemic attack or a warning stroke, the person doesn’t suffer lasting effects.
    — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of minor
Adjective
  • What became apparent to us was that the game was like a sponge for silly ideas.
    — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2026
  • This week was packed with pre-midterm drama, of which only the silliest is in the quiz.
    — Holly J. Morris, NPR, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of silly
Adjective
  • Murphy said doctors diagnosed him with a small hemorrhagic stroke, which is a bleed in the brain.
    — Kevin Freking, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
  • This design improves control over unwanted current leakage as transistors become smaller.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of small
Adjective
  • An alligator with a goofy sense of humor crawled through the back door of a North Carolina bagel shop, then stood at the front counter as if waiting to take someone’s order.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2026
  • His presence was transformative; Stewart made the goofiest, most easily disregarded TV franchise for nerds and nobodies into a work full of warmth and gravitas.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of goofy
Adjective
  • While sharing little in common with dueling-guitar acts such as the Allman Brothers Band or ’70s contemporaries the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac, Television also drew its power from the preternatural rapport between Verlaine and Lloyd’s instruments.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2026
  • The lines of control in the country changed little for years, and a truce was reached in 2022.
    — AHMED HATEM, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of little
Adjective
  • The motives and rooting interest are uncomplicated and impossible to misinterpret, and each straightforward emotional beat is delivered with such sincere and amplified force that resistance is futile.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Gina seems committed to another Heather takedown, no matter how futile those efforts are.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of futile
Adjective
  • These sounds are strange bedfellows, but the delirium rarely feels indulgent or trivial.
    — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Wiring the Teensy to the magnetic-imaging tile was trivial, only complicated by the fact that one side of the board has a silk-screen error that misidentifies the SPI connections (SparkFun says this will be fixed in future runs of the board).
    — Stephen Cass, IEEE Spectrum, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of trivial
Adjective
  • Democrats are giddy over the prospect of snatching Senate seats and gubernatorial races in normally red states.
    — Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
  • How better to sum up that generation’s giddy way of spackling together outfits?
    — The Learning Network, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of giddy

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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 10 Nov. 2026.

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