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
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Recent Examples of frivolous
Most legal analysts viewed the case as frivolous.
—
Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Telanee Smith voted against the settlement, accusing Sinwelski of filing frivolous lawsuits.
—Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
For many adults, play may seem frivolous or even irresponsible, but research tells a different story.
—Katharine Gammon, Time, 6 Feb. 2026
None of the above is frivolous, one mental health professionalemphasizes.
—Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for frivolous
Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Telanee Smith voted against the settlement, accusing Sinwelski of filing frivolous lawsuits.
—Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
For many adults, play may seem frivolous or even irresponsible, but research tells a different story.
—Katharine Gammon, Time, 6 Feb. 2026
None of the above is frivolous, one mental health professionalemphasizes.
—Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for frivolous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frivolous
Adjective
-
The driver of the GMC and a passenger were transported to Tahoe Forest Hospital with minor injuries, the CHP said.—
Daniel Hunt,
Sacbee.com,
28 Feb. 2026
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To the Guggenheim Partners owners, who bought the Lakers at a $10 billion valuation as an aside last year, these are minor matters.—
Tim Cowlishaw,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Every detail of Canadian/American (and the slash here is intentionally indicating a romantic relationship versus a friend or co-worker vibe) civics was sillier than the last.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Nothing is too silly or simple.—
Popular Science Team,
Popular Science,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Published in the journal Matter, the underlying mechanisms behind the inferior photochemical of polymer acceptor and develops a method to enhance both efficiency and stability through small-molecule incorporation.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Feb. 2026
-
February storms brought fresh snow to the Sierra Nevada, but California’s snowpack remains far smaller than average during a winter that has brought record warmth across much of the West.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But this movie gets to show so many different types of personalities and characters and boldness and fearlessness, and these su- per-hot, badass women who are also goofy, silly and cute.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2026
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And for one of our goofier episodes, that's a real human, truthful, universal, elegant, touching speech.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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After that 12-day war in June, Tehran was left with little negotiating leverage, its nuclear facilities heavily damaged, its proxies nearly neutralized and its economy in tatters.—
Abbas Al Lawati,
CNN Money,
1 Mar. 2026
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Leading by five goals in Honduras after 45 minutes allowed for a full-strength performance over Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami and little concern in the second leg against Real España, rotating numerous players ahead of the spring trip to Texas.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Instigated by the dictatorship invading territories long ago ceded to the English, the war was the new government’s futile attempt to restore a nationalist fantasy of Argentina’s borders (and distract from the country’s collapsing economy).—
Daniel R. Quiles,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2026
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These findings don’t mean weight loss is futile; even short-term weight loss correlates with improvements in metabolic health.—
Lori Youmshajekian,
Scientific American,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Whimsy reigns at Sawgrass Mills, but its architecture is not at all trivial.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
23 Feb. 2026
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Does this sound like a trivial use of the human intellect?—
Paul Keane,
Hartford Courant,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Online, giddy takes on Operation Epic Fury described it as a checkmate move against China, rather than a war of choice against Iran.—
Andy Browne,
semafor.com,
2 Mar. 2026
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Hudson Williams also makes a cameo as one of the giddy skaters, a sweet nod to his actual friendship with Storrie (and, of course, a seemingly necessary offering to the feral studio audience).—
Rima Parikh,
Vulture,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Frivolous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frivolous. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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