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
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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
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Recent Examples of silliness
Some hijinks and silliness happen.
—
Charles Infosino, Cincinnati Enquirer, 23 Oct. 2025
As Theodore Logan, Keanu Reeves found the perfect vessel for his serene silliness, playing well off Alex Winter’s equally clueless Bill.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2025
That youthful connection continued through other hosts who took over NBC's Late Night franchise, from the serious silliness of Conan O'Brien to the hard-partying glad-handing of Jimmy Fallon.
—Eric Deggans, NPR, 13 Oct. 2025
More than anything, even amid the silliness and absurdities of the medical emergencies, the show’s feel-good moments, which involve people being saved and others working together, depict a deep humanity.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025
While the slower speed and emphasis on physics, from the long-distance drop of bullet trajectories to the breakable foundations of structures, are a huge part of Battlefield’s DNA, there’s also just an inherent silliness to some of the tactics that stir joy.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2025
Even its most mean-spirited plotline, in which a married couple assemble a fake theater production to humiliate their ex-neighbor whose noisiness prompted them to move, is presented as more of a gentle exercise in silliness than anything truly vindictive.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 3 Oct. 2025
In a throwback to the warts-and-all silliness of the family’s legendary MTV reality show, The Osbournes, Coming Home appears to lean into the domestic comedy of the Osbourne clan, opening with a jittery Ozzy begging Sharon to stop driving in a herky-jerky manner.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 1 Oct. 2025
The American Kennel Club (AKC) highlights their muscular physique and their confidence among the canine world, but that’s not without a certain level of silliness and goofiness too.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Charles Infosino, Cincinnati Enquirer, 23 Oct. 2025
As Theodore Logan, Keanu Reeves found the perfect vessel for his serene silliness, playing well off Alex Winter’s equally clueless Bill.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2025
That youthful connection continued through other hosts who took over NBC's Late Night franchise, from the serious silliness of Conan O'Brien to the hard-partying glad-handing of Jimmy Fallon.
—Eric Deggans, NPR, 13 Oct. 2025
More than anything, even amid the silliness and absurdities of the medical emergencies, the show’s feel-good moments, which involve people being saved and others working together, depict a deep humanity.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025
While the slower speed and emphasis on physics, from the long-distance drop of bullet trajectories to the breakable foundations of structures, are a huge part of Battlefield’s DNA, there’s also just an inherent silliness to some of the tactics that stir joy.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2025
Even its most mean-spirited plotline, in which a married couple assemble a fake theater production to humiliate their ex-neighbor whose noisiness prompted them to move, is presented as more of a gentle exercise in silliness than anything truly vindictive.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 3 Oct. 2025
In a throwback to the warts-and-all silliness of the family’s legendary MTV reality show, The Osbournes, Coming Home appears to lean into the domestic comedy of the Osbourne clan, opening with a jittery Ozzy begging Sharon to stop driving in a herky-jerky manner.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 1 Oct. 2025
The American Kennel Club (AKC) highlights their muscular physique and their confidence among the canine world, but that’s not without a certain level of silliness and goofiness too.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silliness
Noun
-
The social media posts tell the story of a city under a cloud of drug insanity.—
Joe Dwinell,
Boston Herald,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Ellis has a history of schizophrenia, and her defense attorneys entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, WKYC reported.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The other side in a debate with common sense is nonsense.—
Danielle Kurtzleben,
NPR,
22 Oct. 2025
-
That kind of no-nonsense mentality cuts right through all the nonsense and puts the focus on the work.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Yet in others, there’s the lightness of an untouched base.—
Grace Edquist,
Vogue,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Hemmerle is known for its sculptural designs fused with technical ingenuity, often using unexpected metals—like copper, bronze, and aluminum—to achieve distinct tones and lightness.—
Jill Newman,
Robb Report,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Molski has his own method to the madness.—
Kaycee Sloan,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
23 Oct. 2025
-
And what were some under-the-radar happenings in between that set the stage for the madness?—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Snack Homiez’ back-and-forth, soothing in its stupidity, reminded me of this Kate McKinnon-Aidy Bryant two-hander from 2021.—
Charu Sinha,
Vulture,
19 Oct. 2025
-
In Del Toro’s film, the creature isn’t rejected for his loathsome appearance but for his apparent stupidity.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
There’s no glee in the characters, yet somehow James manages to convey a sense of delirious glee for acting — a glee that proves contagious for the audience by the film‘s end.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
24 Oct. 2025
-
That boyish glee was evident again Monday against Utah.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The visual simplicity of mobile phone exchanges, personal photos and Fatma’s own images of her city and people, creates a sense of closeness and immediacy, drawing us into the daily reality of life under siege.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
24 Oct. 2025
-
This luggage set from Wrangler is built for travelers who want function, durability and simplicity at a solid price.—
Nora Colomer
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Don’t use mulch made from black walnut wood, leaves, or nuts near your orchard.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Oct. 2025
-
So in 2017, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases formally recommended parents introduce children under the age of 3 to allergens like nuts.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Silliness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silliness. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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