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
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
What really makes Dog Man special, though, is how Pilkey’s trademark mix of absurd silliness and surprising sincerity shines through.
—Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
People had never seen that kind of silliness.
—Jason Mastrodonato, Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2025
Winston’s in danger of being crushed by the system, not just a few popular-kid sociopaths, and the unassuming nature of Dinklage’s performance gives the character a stubborn dignity amid all the silliness and prosthetics.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
But there are deeper points being made under the cover of silliness, like incisive commentary about how Western Europe views its eastern neighbours.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 23 Aug. 2025
That saccharine silliness juxtaposed with the heady themes of the plot are part of the DNA of the franchise throughout all entries and would follow Kojima to his current work on Death Stranding.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2025
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
What really makes Dog Man special, though, is how Pilkey’s trademark mix of absurd silliness and surprising sincerity shines through.
—Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
People had never seen that kind of silliness.
—Jason Mastrodonato, Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2025
Winston’s in danger of being crushed by the system, not just a few popular-kid sociopaths, and the unassuming nature of Dinklage’s performance gives the character a stubborn dignity amid all the silliness and prosthetics.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
But there are deeper points being made under the cover of silliness, like incisive commentary about how Western Europe views its eastern neighbours.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 23 Aug. 2025
That saccharine silliness juxtaposed with the heady themes of the plot are part of the DNA of the franchise throughout all entries and would follow Kojima to his current work on Death Stranding.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silliness
Noun
-
Following his arrest, Gein was charged with first-degree murder, but pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.—
Elizabeth Yuko,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
-
But beneath the insanity, there's real heart, pathos, and vulnerability.—
Jessica Wang,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Packers gonna Packers, but at least Doubs is clear of that nonsense.—
Jess Bryant,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Assembly Bill 325 is economically illiterate nonsense that attempts to ban the use of pricing algorithms that help businesses determine prices.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
There were a lot of bold colors in the collections, transparency and lightness.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
29 Sep. 2025
-
The building has kept some of this lightness of feeling all these years later, smallish and airy, its multiple exits and entrances providing the possibility of spontaneity.—
Katie da Cunha Lewin
September 26,
Literary Hub,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Against the backdrop of New York’s Hudson Valley, the film explores faith, madness, autonomy, and the fragile boundary between salvation and delusion.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
2 Oct. 2025
-
There’s only madness at the bottom of that picture.—
Kate Colby
October 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Its stupidity was entertaining, but its stupidity also freed me from having to think about it.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
30 Sep. 2025
-
The only reason for this incessant stupidity?—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Even on tour, fans go expecting dramatic catharsis to be undergirding all that glee.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Confetti canons shot out glittering rainbows, and Derevjanik began to dance around, shouting in glee.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The pieces serve as grounding tools, a nod to simplicity in design but layered with weighty symbolism.—
Essence,
Essence,
1 Oct. 2025
-
With its combination of simplicity, stability, and cost-efficiency, the kirigami parachute may soon find its place in both relief missions and advanced aerospace tests.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Just one or two nuts can cover your daily needs.—
Morgan Pearson,
Verywell Health,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Spoon any topping and nuts in pan onto loaf.—
Katlyn Moncada,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Silliness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silliness. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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