gossamery

adjective

Definition of gossamerynext
1
as in fine
being of a material lacking in sturdiness or substance that gossamery dress should be washed gently by hand so it doesn't disintegrate

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fluffy
resembling air in lightness a gossamery feather floating on the breeze

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sheer
very thin and easy to see through use this gossamery cheesecloth to strain the liquid out of the cottage cheese

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gossamery
  1. fine
  2. fluffy
  3. sheer
  4. flimsy
  5. transparent
  6. fragile
  7. delicate
  8. insubstantial
Adjective
  • In most fine dining restaurants, sommeliers carefully select wines to complement and match each course.
    — Yuri Shima, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
  • The Alzheimer’s Blood Tests are not designed as a mass screening tool for people who feel fine and have no memory concerns.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 25 July 2026
Definition of fine
Adjective
  • The first successful clone came from domestic yak DNA – a small, fluffy black calf born via C-section.
    — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
  • The name comes from the footlong, fluffy white flower clusters at the ends of arching stems.
    — Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2026
Definition of fluffy
Adjective
  • Enter coconut-milk nails, the internet’s new nickname for a wash of sheer white.
    — Jeanne Ballion, Vogue, 25 July 2026
  • Unlike traditional nail polish, nail concealer is a sheer, tinted treatment that helps disguise everything from breakage and discoloration to ridging.
    — Alexis Berger, InStyle, 25 July 2026
Definition of sheer
Adjective
  • White button-down shirts have both star power and staying power, but the key is to choose one that isn’t sheer or flimsy.
    — Tanya Sharma, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026
  • The buttons, switches and rotary controls also have a satisfying action, avoiding the flimsy feel that can undermine an otherwise attractive economy-car interior.
    — Karl Brauer, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of flimsy
Adjective
  • Some Austin City Council members have released statements on social media calling for a transparent investigation.
    — Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
  • Sell the position through concise job descriptions, transparent salary ranges, and highlighting small business advantages like flexibility and impact.
    — Rob Falzon, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of transparent
Adjective
  • And when Red Bull did not stop him under the VSC, that meant going just 28 laps to the finish on the soft compound, a hefty stint for the most fragile tire.
    — Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 26 July 2026
  • As Jason’s obsession with the Box deepens, Daniela’s growing paranoia pushes her to the brink, threatening to tear their fragile stability apart.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 26 July 2026
Definition of fragile
Adjective
  • TouchLab unveiled electronic skin, giving robots a crucial sense of touch for delicate handling and safe interaction.
    — Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 24 July 2026
  • Navigating our world requires simultaneously processing 4K video, spatial lidar, audio, and delicate tactile or proprioceptive feedback.
    — Charlie Campbell, Time, 23 July 2026
Definition of delicate
Adjective
  • But too few of those ideas yield satisfying conclusions, resulting in a drama that becomes treacly and insubstantial, reaching for a profundity that remains elusive.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
  • The wall was as insubstantial as a set on a film studio’s back lot.
    — Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Definition of insubstantial
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.

Browse Nearby Words

gossamer
gossamery
gossip
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gossamery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gossamery. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of sultry

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

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

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Jul. 31

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
chain-question-mark
Missing Link Quiz July 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All