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
Time to stop the silliness with the opener and start him.
—
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 18 Apr. 2026
Levy and Taylor Ortega play disorganized siblings who get thrust into the world of organized crime, a departure from the world of Schitt’s Creek, but still maintains the silliness and fun of a Dan Levy show.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2026
The zero gravity effects here work extremely well and there's a genuine good-naturedness on display that enhances the true silliness of the moment.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 14 Apr. 2026
For all its potential silliness, real characters populate these bloody waters.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2026
There were plenty of moments of silliness to go along with the solemnity in Tuesday’s show.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 10 Apr. 2026
My mom’s silliness, her humanness, her imperfections seemed to disappear in the process of repeatedly writing about her struggles.
—Literary Hub, 7 Apr. 2026
After the introduction of the titular crime and a proto-12 Angry Men (1957) jury scene, the film becomes a playful meta-commentary on the inherent silliness of watching actors go through the motions of detective work, with numerous charming visual embellishments.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Apr. 2026
Audiences can take in two shows, with lots of silliness and some heart.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2026
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 18 Apr. 2026
Levy and Taylor Ortega play disorganized siblings who get thrust into the world of organized crime, a departure from the world of Schitt’s Creek, but still maintains the silliness and fun of a Dan Levy show.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2026
The zero gravity effects here work extremely well and there's a genuine good-naturedness on display that enhances the true silliness of the moment.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 14 Apr. 2026
For all its potential silliness, real characters populate these bloody waters.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2026
There were plenty of moments of silliness to go along with the solemnity in Tuesday’s show.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 10 Apr. 2026
My mom’s silliness, her humanness, her imperfections seemed to disappear in the process of repeatedly writing about her struggles.
—Literary Hub, 7 Apr. 2026
After the introduction of the titular crime and a proto-12 Angry Men (1957) jury scene, the film becomes a playful meta-commentary on the inherent silliness of watching actors go through the motions of detective work, with numerous charming visual embellishments.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Apr. 2026
Audiences can take in two shows, with lots of silliness and some heart.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silliness
Noun
-
She was found not responsible by reason of insanity and remanded to mental health treatment.—
Selina Guevara,
NBC news,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Many of us have spent the past 15 months focused on chaos and bouts of incredulity, if not insanity.—
Donna Vickroy,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The mother had died of tuberculosis the previous year and there were no siblings, which was a tremendous benefit in my mother’s eyes—no one to fill her ears with nonsense.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Apr. 2026
-
After the usual avalanche of draft-week nonsense, and enough misinformation to fog up half the league, the noise gives way to the decisions.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There’s a lightness to it in that respect.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
21 Apr. 2026
-
With their everyday wear, the rings are streamlined to showcase steel’s lightness and comfort — and their stackable design allows for layered wear for mixing-and-matching.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Either way, madness can’t be normalized with more madness.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Apr. 2026
-
There is a method to the madness.—
Sandra McDonald,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That men like Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk are entrusted with businesses of tectonic influence can be difficult to understand, but their cults of personality have been able to survive scrutiny, perhaps because the money itself is too imposing a firewall for their own stupidity to penetrate.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Eric Swalwell, a prominent Democratic House member and a front-runner in the race for California governor, had his political career blown up by allegations of degeneracy and abject stupidity.—
Michelle Cottle,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
New York with aplomb, expressing glee about the network being able to keep the project a secret.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Laptop twee tries to pretend those simpler times are accessible, which makes for exaggerated, juvenile glee—a dishonest document of 2026, but a wildly appealing one.—
Samuel Hyland,
Pitchfork,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Staples of French cuisine, these dishes are beloved for their elegant simplicity — and are must‑tries for any foodie.—
Toni Odejimi,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2026
-
People really love her silent simplicity in a lot of ways.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
According to registered dietitians, a mix of nuts, especially pistachios, and dried tart cherries is the healthiest late-night snack.—
Lynn Andriani,
Martha Stewart,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Many whole foods are naturally gluten-free, including fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Silliness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silliness. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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