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
The silliness of that aspect of the story is baked into this interpretation, with several very meta acknowledgments.
—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
30 June 2026
No, no jersey burnings or any of that silliness in the wake of Antetokounmpo working his way out of Milwaukee.
—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
27 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
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
30 June 2026
No, no jersey burnings or any of that silliness in the wake of Antetokounmpo working his way out of Milwaukee.
—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
27 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silliness
Noun
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Piggott was found not guilty by reason of insanity in a trial held a year later.
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Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is calling for the impeachment of the Miami-Dade judge who acquitted a woman by reason of insanity in the 2021 death of her 15-month-old daughter, arguing the ruling threatens public safety.
Noun
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Even Hauser can’t rescue this culturally insensitive, stereotype-perpetuating nonsense.
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Some beer companies even make canned versions of the drink, but forget that nonsense — there is nothing better than a fresh, handmade michelada.
Noun
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The movement here is made from 274 components, with a focus on lightness, transparency, and volume.
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Ease, fluidity and lightness in terms of proportion and material — silk, linen and cotton.
Noun
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Is this just a salary dump, or is there a method to the madness for the Wolves?
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Welcome to the Amazon Prime Day 2026 madness!
Noun
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Which again, highlights the stupidity of allowing these exceptions in the first place.
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Final negotiations on ‘Peace’ are proceeding, subject to ignorance or stupidity getting in its way.
Noun
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There’s already angst in the party, and glee among Republicans, that the trio will use their new clout to spotlight issues that divide Democrats.
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This tangled relationship between Lestat and Armand, and all the guilt Lestat carries from it, provides a major breakthrough for Molloy’s documentary, and the journalist reacts with giddy, off-putting glee.
Noun
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Write with simplicity and heart.
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That distinction is important because the company sees simplicity as one of its greatest strengths.
Noun
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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 2 Jul. 2026.
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