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
The show combines the world-building vibes of BoJack Horseman with the silliness of Bob’s Burgers, and tops the whole thing off with the musical stylings of a Crazy Ex-Girlfriend — all wrapped in family-friendly packaging.
—
Will Harris, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Jan. 2026
Then came the commemorative T-shirts and hats and the horde of reporters around Saquon Barkley as the running back reflected on the silliness of this season.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025
The plot includes lots of silliness and absurdity, and SpongeBob’s innocence and optimistic attitude is depicted in a fun, playful manner.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 19 Dec. 2025
The production’s finest, most perfectly farcical moment ensues—a bit of purely theatrical silliness—and hey presto!
—Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2025
But that doesn’t hold it back from occasionally landing within the boundaries of something like the silliness of Birdie Wing.
—Kambole Campbell, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025
The first two 13-episode seasons were the quintessential mixed bag, at times bold and brilliant, but also tonally inconsistent and susceptible to moments of extreme silliness.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 5 Dec. 2025
For someone like me who loves both science and silliness, this playful, surreal fable was a glorious read.
—Brianne Kane, Scientific American, 4 Dec. 2025
But for any of these films to really work, there has to be a recognizable foundation on which to build the silliness, and director Jim O’Hanlon has made sure to make this comedic assault on this genre one that also just might work storywise for fans of the shows being spoofed.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2025
Will Harris, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Jan. 2026
Then came the commemorative T-shirts and hats and the horde of reporters around Saquon Barkley as the running back reflected on the silliness of this season.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025
The plot includes lots of silliness and absurdity, and SpongeBob’s innocence and optimistic attitude is depicted in a fun, playful manner.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 19 Dec. 2025
The production’s finest, most perfectly farcical moment ensues—a bit of purely theatrical silliness—and hey presto!
—Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2025
But that doesn’t hold it back from occasionally landing within the boundaries of something like the silliness of Birdie Wing.
—Kambole Campbell, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025
The first two 13-episode seasons were the quintessential mixed bag, at times bold and brilliant, but also tonally inconsistent and susceptible to moments of extreme silliness.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 5 Dec. 2025
For someone like me who loves both science and silliness, this playful, surreal fable was a glorious read.
—Brianne Kane, Scientific American, 4 Dec. 2025
But for any of these films to really work, there has to be a recognizable foundation on which to build the silliness, and director Jim O’Hanlon has made sure to make this comedic assault on this genre one that also just might work storywise for fans of the shows being spoofed.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silliness
Noun
-
She was found not guilty by reason of insanity in 2006 and was placed in a maximum-security psychiatric center in Texas, where she's resided ever since.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
-
In addition, only 26% of defendants raising the insanity defense were found not guilty by reason of insanity.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Crucially, the eggs were fittingly fluffy, none of that rubbery nonsense that plague lesser burrito slingers.—
Brock Keeling,
Oc Register,
6 Nov. 2025
-
All’s Fair is girlboss nonsense.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
To assess the roots, carefully remove the plant from its pot and examine them for firmness, lightness, and suppleness.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
8 Jan. 2026
-
But with Rawayana, depth is always masked by lightness.—
Leonor C. Suárez,
Rolling Stone,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But there was some method to the madness here, as UConn, which didn’t take a free throw in the first half, took 18 in the second half and OT.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Ditlevsen writes beautifully, and her sly and specific humor always manages to both undercut and deepen the madness and love in all of her books.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
So please excuse my ignorance and stupidity here, but.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
17 Dec. 2025
-
That’s how stupidity often is—causing problems, but also presenting opportunities.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
5 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Comments filled with glee and heart emojis, and viewers chimed in from Ireland and London, from Nigeria and Rwanda and Uganda, from Harlem and Arkansas.—
Sarah Hepola,
Dallas Morning News,
6 Jan. 2026
-
His freewheeling political rallies and frothy social media presence were, and continue to be, a source of great glee to his fans and followers.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Behind the classy presentation is a working-class spirit, one that honors the simplicity of showing up, being yourself and doing your job.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The rover’s two-wheel design reflects UEL’s emphasis on surface mobility and system simplicity.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The next slide showed a mouthwatering array of meats, cheeses, crudite and nuts set for snacking on, along with bottles of Haack's champagne line, Clé Cachée, chilling behind an array of glasses.—
Marina Watts,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
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For instance, nuts, seeds, nut butters, and chocolate are more prone to oxidation, which can lead to rancid flavors or a gritty texture.—
Bridget Shirvell,
Martha Stewart,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Silliness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silliness. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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