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
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Recent Examples of silliness
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
On one hand, this is silliness; Swift barely even lived here.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 8 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
Yet there’s wisdom amid the silliness, as the story gently makes a case for the necessity of grief, mindfulness and mortal awareness, even in a life otherwise unburdened by adult human responsibility.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
Joshua Hunt, Vanity Fair, 17 June 2026
On one hand, this is silliness; Swift barely even lived here.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 8 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
Yet there’s wisdom amid the silliness, as the story gently makes a case for the necessity of grief, mindfulness and mortal awareness, even in a life otherwise unburdened by adult human responsibility.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silliness
Noun
-
However, what seemed like the perfect life was really a complex house of cards built on lies and insanity.—
David Hookstead OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
16 June 2026
-
Support ballot measures or candidates (not named Steyer) focused on reforming the state’s zoning and regulatory insanity.—
Michelle Cottle,
Mercury News,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
The only way real barriers to non-factory service could be required to work on a ladder-frame gas-engine truck would be if the automaker intentionally loaded it with proprietary nonsense.—
Andrew P. Collins,
The Drive,
11 June 2026
-
Yet more arrant nonsense, coming from someone who has repeatedly been cited for spreading vaccine misinformation.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
The seaweed choux buns are cloudlike in their lightness.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
16 June 2026
-
Here, Elliott Gould brings a deft touch to his hang-dog detective Philip Marlowe, moving with a lightness that's hard to pin down but is undeniably comic.—
Eric Farwell,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
Driven by revenge and madness, Sweeney Todd slices necks he is meant to just shave.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
16 June 2026
-
Horkheimer and Adorno had concluded that advanced capitalism, far from being a technocratic monolith, had an inherent tendency toward chaos and madness.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Final negotiations on ‘Peace’ are proceeding, subject to ignorance or stupidity getting in its way.—
Ananya Chetia,
CNBC,
8 June 2026
-
Don’t just try to be brilliant; focus on avoiding stupidity.—
Nilton Bernini,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Ideas expressed in the piece The article argues that the glee over Tom Steyer’s loss in the California governor’s race reflects a broader, understandable anger at extreme wealth in an era of serf‑lord–level inequality, but contends that this anger is being misdirected at the wrong billionaire.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
-
As the base runners scampered home, tying the game, Chicago players and fans alike shrieked with glee.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
There's a certain simplicity to it.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
-
Rather than convert a traditional motor yacht to electric propulsion, the team developed a unique catamaran centered on efficiency, autonomy, and simplicity.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
Tawny Port spends years in barrel, picking up notes of caramel, nuts, and toffee along the way.—
Emily Price,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
-
Pairing them with a meal containing some fat, even avocado toast or yogurt with nuts, makes a real difference.—
Allison Palmer
Updated June 13,
Sacbee.com,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Silliness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silliness. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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