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
  • Miami did a relatively fine job in Weeks 2 and 3 against some of the most talented backs in Christian McCaffrey of the 49ers and Kenneth Walker of the Chiefs but slipped up the two games prior to the bye against the Vikings and Bengals.
    — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Mario Prada sourced fine leathers, silver, silk and crystal from Europe and beyond and these are on public display in Milan for the first time.
    — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of fine
Adjective
  • And as far as cream cheese frostings go, this one is super light and fluffy.
    — Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The salty bacon and fluffy eggs formed that classic breakfast flavor, while the potatoes added a satisfying heartiness without weighing the taco down.
    — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of fluffy
Adjective
  • The tracks, the engineers, the data, the media attention, the sheer amount of racing—the Formula 1 World Championship consists of twenty-plus races, on five continents, in nine months.
    — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The silhouette was mostly formfitting and streamlined, with emphasis at the hips and waist and a continuation of the contrasting sheer, black fabric running down the column skirt.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of sheer
Adjective
  • Mohammed Annour spent much of his youth living in a flimsy shelter in a dusty, overcrowded refugee camp in east Africa, where the days were long, the food was poor and the future nonexistent.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Pack with intention Ayoub frequently sees people underestimate the value of proper packing supplies and trying to fit too much into a flimsy container.
    — Perri Ormont Blumberg, Architectural Digest, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of flimsy
Adjective
  • What matters is being transparent, listening to employees’ concerns and following through when answers become available.
    — Jon Lowe, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Now with Daniela landing in this transparent enclosure with him, this Jason helps plot their escape with the extra ampoules that she’s brought with her.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of transparent
Adjective
  • Where Thomas is aloof and proud, Erika is prickly and sardonic, excellent tools for protecting a surprisingly fragile heart.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • My childhood school in Denmark hadn’t been turned to rubble but into an emotional battlefield, a psychological groundhog’s day of explosive arguments, violent brawls—and brief, fragile truces that always shattered when the home bell rung.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of fragile
Adjective
  • Instead of relying on a gritty scrub (which can be harsh on delicate lip skin), Obagi’s Lip Therapy AHA+PHA Smoothing Micro-Peel uses three exfoliating acids—glycolic, lactic, and gluconolactone—to gently loosen buildup and smooth rough texture.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 21 Oct. 2026
  • In Shanghai, a look that defines the cultural moment is quickly emerging, with delicate fabrics and softer silhouettes channeling Chloé’s 1970s bohemian chic taking the lead.
    — Denni Hu, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of delicate
Adjective
  • On his latest, Young’s major-key meditations on love and alienation are as winsome as a bay breeze, if occasionally as insubstantial.
    — Linnie Greene, Pitchfork, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Tying all this to a generic RPG progression system full of constant but insubstantial upgrades and resources feels more like busywork than anything else.
    — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 18 Sep. 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 29 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of shindig

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

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

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

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

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

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
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
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All