1
as in insanity
lack of good sense or judgment
she was both amused and irritated by the silliness of his comments regarding the movie they has just seen
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nonsense
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense
stop this silliness at once!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in lightness
a lack of seriousness often at an improper time
this inability to refrain from silliness is a distressing sign of professional immaturity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of silliness
Is now the time for the industry to take the silliness seriously?
—
Simon Thompson,
HollywoodReporter,
21 June 2026
But what pushed the situation from the realm of silliness to sinister was a US operation to seize Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife from their home in Caracas on January 3, 2026.
—
Joshua Hunt,
Vanity Fair,
17 June 2026
Yet, away from the court, these two personify the best qualities of friendship and the silliness that comes with it.
—
James L. Edwards Iii,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
That led to a whole lot of silliness.
—
Phil Wahba,
Fortune,
2 June 2026
Pratchett’s gift was to blend deep philosophy and complete silliness.
—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
24 May 2026
Every part of this song is high-energy silliness.
—
Charlie Harding,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
Commentors, of course, had a mixed bag of reactions, ranging from arguing that Kelce is the Duchess of Delco to criticizing the governor's silliness.
—
Kaitlyn McCormick,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Yet there’s wisdom amid the silliness, as the story gently makes a case for the necessity of grief, mindfulness and mortal awareness, even in a life otherwise unburdened by adult human responsibility.
—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
Simon Thompson,
HollywoodReporter,
21 June 2026
But what pushed the situation from the realm of silliness to sinister was a US operation to seize Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife from their home in Caracas on January 3, 2026.
—
Joshua Hunt,
Vanity Fair,
17 June 2026
Yet, away from the court, these two personify the best qualities of friendship and the silliness that comes with it.
—
James L. Edwards Iii,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
That led to a whole lot of silliness.
—
Phil Wahba,
Fortune,
2 June 2026
Pratchett’s gift was to blend deep philosophy and complete silliness.
—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
24 May 2026
Every part of this song is high-energy silliness.
—
Charlie Harding,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
Commentors, of course, had a mixed bag of reactions, ranging from arguing that Kelce is the Duchess of Delco to criticizing the governor's silliness.
—
Kaitlyn McCormick,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Yet there’s wisdom amid the silliness, as the story gently makes a case for the necessity of grief, mindfulness and mortal awareness, even in a life otherwise unburdened by adult human responsibility.
—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silliness
Noun
-
Bland was obsessed with religion, but that did not amount to insanity, the prosecutor argued.
-
Part of what drew him to the case, Burton said, was that many of the issues relevant then are still relevant today, like the death penalty, the use of the insanity defense, parole and rehabilitation.
Noun
-
Not only is that nonsense, but Israel took this into account.
-
Get outta here with that nonsense.
Noun
-
The collection expressed an idea of contemporary simplicity, built through precise proportions, evolved materials and a new visual lightness.
-
Choose Furniture With Raised Legs McClain creates visual lightness by choosing seating that is raised up from the floor.
Noun
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Is this just a salary dump, or is there a method to the madness for the Wolves?
-
Welcome to the Amazon Prime Day 2026 madness!
Noun
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Final negotiations on ‘Peace’ are proceeding, subject to ignorance or stupidity getting in its way.
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Don’t just try to be brilliant; focus on avoiding stupidity.
Noun
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Because in a country increasingly divided by social justice causes and their opposing viewpoints, fans increasingly care where their sports teams stand — sometimes to fans' glee or chagrin — depending on whether their opinions agree with that of their teams or leagues.
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To our glee, the air mattresses floated him high in the water.
Noun
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Light and Breezy One of the many virtues of the ’60s shift is its simplicity.
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The collection expressed an idea of contemporary simplicity, built through precise proportions, evolved materials and a new visual lightness.
Noun
-
Her lab has found even modest additions to the diet — a handful of nuts or an avocado — can enrich certain beneficial bacteria over the course of a few weeks.
-
Including foods like avocado, olive oil, nuts, or seeds can make your meal more satisfying and may also stimulate digestion.
Cite this Entry
“Silliness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silliness. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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