Synonyms of silly

silly 1 of 2

adjective

ˈsi-lē 

1

as in goofy

lacking in seriousness or maturity

the matinee show was filled with a bunch of silly children making noise

Synonyms & Similar Words

• goofy
• giddy
• futile
• playful
• frivolous
• foolish
• puerile
• ditzy
• scatterbrained
• harebrained
• crazy
• happy
• dizzy
• frothy
• ditsy
• yeasty
• flighty
• inane
• light-minded
• featherbrained
• nonsensical
• thoughtless
• fatuous
• superficial
• daft
• shallow
• birdbrained
• light-headed
• witless
• flippant
• exuberant
• lighthearted
• daffy
• giggly
• fluttery
• sappy
• light
• fruity

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• serious
• earnest
• sober
• thoughtful
• somber
• melancholy
• grave
• sombre
• serious-minded
• unfrivolous
• heavy
• severe
• solemn
• dignified
• staid
• sedate
• no-nonsense

2

as in stupid

showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment

those silly movie producers who thought that audiences would fall for that gimmick all over again

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stupid
• foolish
• absurd
• crazy
• mad
• insane
• idiotic
• ridiculous
• lunatic
• irrational
• dumb
• simple
• fool
• nonsensical
• looney
• whacky
• zany
• daft
• asinine
• fatuous
• wacky
• preposterous
• unreasonable
• unwise
• idiotical
• weak
• loony
• kooky
• nutty
• dippy
• sappy
• witless
• simpleminded
• senseless
• daffy
• slow
• inept
• brainless
• harebrained
• screwball
• dotty
• out to lunch
• cuckoo
• jerky
• weak-minded
• moronic
• unreasoning
• crackpot
• half-baked
• cockeyed
• kookie
• tomfool
• balmy
• illogical
• thoughtless
• bubbleheaded
• lunkheaded
• dopey
• half-witted
• ludicrous
• clueless
• imbecilic
• vacuous
• dorky
• featherheaded
• dull
• obtuse
• unreasoned
• imbecile
• unintelligent
• laughable
• doltish
• mindless
• farcical
• fallacious
• lamebrained
• lamebrain
• dense
• thickheaded
• dim
• invalid
• brain-dead
• feebleminded
• oafish
• dunderheaded
• dopy
• pinheaded
• soft
• opaque
• thick
• softheaded
• unsound
• clownish
• surd
• empty-headed
• dim-witted
• nonrational
• gormless
• airheaded
• knuckleheaded
• chuckleheaded
• buffoonish
• notional
• slow-witted
• ill-advised
• boobish
• birdbrained
• unconsidered
• chowderheaded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• wise
• sound
• sensible
• prudent
• sane
• clever
• reasonable
• intelligent
• judicious
• smart
• bright
• logical
• valid
• rational
• sagacious
• sage
• sapient
• brainy
• well-advised

3

as in ridiculous

so foolish or pointless as to be worthy of scornful laughter

had the silly notion that her latest marriage might last longer than her three previous ones

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ridiculous
• absurd
• pathetic
• foolish
• stupid
• comical
• unreasonable
• ludicrous
• dumb
• fantastical
• laughable
• irrational
• farcical
• derisive
• preposterous
• incredible
• crazy
• risible
• cockamamie
• insane
• idiotic
• derisory
• for the birds
• fantastic
• inane
• mad
• nonsensical
• moronic
• cockamamy
• asinine
• fatuous
• imbecilic
• unwise
• imbecile
• daft
• unreal
• witless
• simpleminded
• unrealistic
• lunatic
• wacky
• whacky
• illogical
• unbelievable
• brainless
• loony
• nutty
• harebrained
• inconceivable
• jerky
• kooky
• idiotical
• daffy
• senseless
• cuckoo
• half-baked
• looney
• weak-minded
• kookie
• far-fetched
• screwball
• dotty
• half-witted
• cockeyed
• balmy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• serious
• earnest
• solemn
• reasonable
• logical
• realistic
• rational
• sensible
• conceivable
• credible
• believable

4

as in bewildered

suffering from mental confusion

stunning news that knocked me silly

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bewildered
• confused
• dazed
• distracted
• stunned
• dizzy
• out of it
• dopey
• bemused
• muddleheaded
• dopy
• at sea
• spaced
• befuddled
• mixed-up
• spacey
• slaphappy
• punchy
• pixilated
• fogged
• punch-drunk
• stupefied
• bedeviled
• confounded
• raddled
• addled
• unconscious
• shell-shocked
• muzzy
• pixillated
• befogged
• addle
• zonked-out
• bushed
• spacy
• zonked
• addlepated
• senseless
• spaced-out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• conscious
• alert
• clearheaded

silly

2 of 2

noun

as in simpleton

Synonyms & Similar Words

• simpleton
• goose
• fool
• scatterbrain
• ditz
• cuckoo
• flibbertigibbet
• nitwit
• featherhead
• rattlebrain
• birdbrain
• featherbrain
• softhead

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sobersides

Synonym Chooser

How is the word silly different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of silly are asinine, fatuous, foolish, and simple. While all these words mean "actually or apparently deficient in intelligence," silly suggests failure to act as a rational being especially by ridiculous behavior.

the silly antics of revelers

In what contexts can asinine take the place of silly?

In some situations, the words asinine and silly are roughly equivalent. However, asinine suggests utter and contemptible failure to use normal rationality or perception.

an asinine plot

When is it sensible to use fatuous instead of silly?

Although the words fatuous and silly have much in common, fatuous implies foolishness, inanity, and disregard of reality.

fatuous conspiracy theories

When could foolish be used to replace silly?

The words foolish and silly can be used in similar contexts, but foolish implies the character of being or seeming unable to use judgment, discretion, or good sense.

foolish stunts

When would simple be a good substitute for silly?

The words simple and silly are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, simple implies a degree of intelligence inadequate to cope with anything complex or involving mental effort.

considered people simple who had trouble with computers

Examples of silly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The annual party involves games, barbeque, a winner’s ceremony, and several silly speeches. —Katy Kelleher, TIME, 1 Oct. 2024

The comedy about the silly things that are unique to this genre is much more hit and miss. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2024

What our tester says: Honestly, my kids use this more to change their voice and say silly things than sing. —Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 27 Sep. 2024

Scare yourself silly, buy a record and eat tater tots No other fall event magically captures the grit, authenticity and originality of Atlanta's eastside like the Little Five Points Halloween Parade and Festival. —Thomas Wheatley, Axios, 25 Sep. 2024

Phrases Containing silly

• knock silly