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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word silly different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of silly are asinine, fatuous, foolish, and simple. While all these words mean "actually or apparently deficient in intelligence," silly suggests failure to act as a rational being especially by ridiculous behavior.

the silly antics of revelers

In what contexts can asinine take the place of silly?

In some situations, the words asinine and silly are roughly equivalent. However, asinine suggests utter and contemptible failure to use normal rationality or perception.

an asinine plot

When is it sensible to use fatuous instead of silly?

Although the words fatuous and silly have much in common, fatuous implies foolishness, inanity, and disregard of reality.

fatuous conspiracy theories

When could foolish be used to replace silly?

The words foolish and silly can be used in similar contexts, but foolish implies the character of being or seeming unable to use judgment, discretion, or good sense.

foolish stunts

When would simple be a good substitute for silly?

The words simple and silly are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, simple implies a degree of intelligence inadequate to cope with anything complex or involving mental effort.

considered people simple who had trouble with computers

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 silly
Adjective
Paul Reubens, subject of a new HBO documentary, was in the closet — but his famous character wasn't Comments To love Pee-Herman was a wonderful thing, a silly and liberating thing. Tom Gliatto, People.com, 24 May 2025 Obviously, Final Destination avoided that very silly ending, and Clear doesn’t mention a child in Final Destination 2. Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 22 May 2025
Noun
It was shot in portrait because it was shot in Instagram by and for a woman who was losing her mind in quarantine and had fully let the sillies take the wheel. Ego Nwodim, TIME, 12 Feb. 2025 Some more sillies from last night’s GRAMMY nominees reception. Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 4 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for silly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silly
Adjective
  • Pair over Bluetooth, drop a shot into the app, add a collage frame or goofy sticker, and in half a minute, a wide-format print pops out.
    Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 27 May 2025
  • Willy Memnon, who is endearingly played by Coleman Ray Clark as goofy, childlike and incompetent.
    Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2025
Adjective
  • Camp, stupid, joyful—to both own and access—Labubu has taken over.
    Lara Johnson-Wheeler, Vogue, 31 May 2025
  • This is just stupid how successful this is, but that’s really underselling it.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 31 May 2025
Adjective
  • The 30-year-old actor’s longevity is clearly due to his willingness to fully commit to his characters, no matter how ridiculous.
    Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 27 May 2025
  • As Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt looped a single over the infield and into short right, the sublime gave way to ridiculous.
    Denver Post, Denver Post, 26 May 2025
Adjective
  • But Evander Kane banked a puck off Esa Lindell’s skate and past a bewildered DeSmith less than three minutes later to restore the two-goal lead.
    Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 30 May 2025
  • Comments Jeffrey Dean Morgan was baffled, bewildered, and befuddled.
    Dalton Ross, EW.com, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • Gamble, seeing there was no way to get anywhere with the chancellor playing the simpleton, opened the floor to softball questions.
    Thomas Meaney, Harper's Magazine, 26 Apr. 2024
  • Americans, even or especially historians, tend to treat the early New Englanders as dogmatists: narrow, pious simpletons.
    Marilynne Robinson, Harper's Magazine, 1 July 2022
Adjective
  • Castillo’s short novel is a giddy character study of an unpleasant young male type.
    Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 2 June 2025
  • Attendees had the chance to film themselves posing against the canola field backdrop from When Life Gives You Tangerines or jumping high into the air like a giddy Thanos with the aid of a Squid Game trampoline.
    Regina Kim, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Adjective
  • To write off the Israeli leader would be foolish, especially with new elections not required until late 2026.
    Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 22 May 2025
  • His writing is so human—his people are foolish in such human ways.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 21 May 2025
Adjective
  • One thing that’s been a challenge to satirists in the last 10 years is that reality has become so absurd, with the dumbest possible things happening every day, that there doesn’t always seem to be another level for satire to go to.
    Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 28 May 2025
  • Read it because existence is absurd, and laughter might be the most intelligent response available.
    Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Silly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silly. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

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