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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in bewildered
suffering from mental confusion
stunning news that knocked me silly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in simpleton
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of silly
Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 17 Sep. 2025
It was shot in portrait because it was shot in Instagram by and for a woman who was losing her mind in quarantine and had fully let the sillies take the wheel.
—Ego Nwodim, TIME, 12 Feb. 2025
Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
Other videos are much, much sillier.
—Adam Carlson, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for silly
Adjective
But no, sillies: Bradley is white, famous and pretty — no jail time for her!
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 17 Sep. 2025
It was shot in portrait because it was shot in Instagram by and for a woman who was losing her mind in quarantine and had fully let the sillies take the wheel.
—Ego Nwodim, TIME, 12 Feb. 2025
Noun
To educate all of them in similar ways is insulting, and silly.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
Other videos are much, much sillier.
—Adam Carlson, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for silly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silly
Adjective
-
Powell might have been appealing enough to make this goofy premise work if Russ and his alter ego weren’t two of the most obnoxious TV characters in recent memory—and if the show didn’t seem cobbled together from older, better sports comedies.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Even the goofy Mexican costumes are well-made and pleasant to look at.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The real star of this episode, however, was Gretchen Christine Beauté and her stupid Lara Croft outfit.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Among the colorful cast of rogues, villains, queens and clergymen, Andre The Giant stands out as the young suitor’s kind-hearted but stupid brute.—
Duane Byrge,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This is the most ridiculous robbery ever, Mirvat thought.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Summarize Text – Get a quick overview of a long email, article or contract and understand those ridiculous ‘Terms of Service’ agreements.—
Ken Colburn,
AZCentral.com,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
William is totally bewildered and frustrated that it’s being sanctioned.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Looking at the Williams in the wrong spot, the crew looked bewildered, while one person signaled Sainz to move on.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Gamble, seeing there was no way to get anywhere with the chancellor playing the simpleton, opened the floor to softball questions.—
Thomas Meaney,
Harper's Magazine,
26 Apr. 2024
-
His competition was Forrest Gump, a feel-good studio drama that located America’s soul in a sweet simpleton played by Tom Hanks.—
Michael Schulman,
Vulture,
21 Feb. 2023
Adjective
-
While the film is filled with incredible gay kisses, my personal favorite remains when Ennis and Jack reunite for the first time; there’s nothing giddier than the full-body passion that overtakes you after being reunited with your long-distance true love after months — or years — or longing.—
James Factora,
Them.,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Both actors do very well at building their secret courtship, which is at first playful and giddy, and later intense, desperate and even violent.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This place belongs to the Carver, a deranged butcher who hunts anything foolish enough to enter.—
Meredith G. White,
AZCentral.com,
25 Sep. 2025
-
France had been humiliated in 1871 by Prussia in a foolish war of its own making, and Dreyfus, accused of passing military secrets to the Germans, was a convenient scapegoat in a time of national malaise.—
Ian Buruma,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
But the true spectacle, his essence, is watching Hardy barge to an absurd-but-revealing 485 yards after contact and what that’s creating.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
25 Sep. 2025
-
This remake is most curious for the contrast—Cervantes’ novel is thought to be the first realist piece of literature, where Rushdie’s update is decidedly absurd.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Silly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silly. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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