1
as in unsubstantial
being of a material lacking in sturdiness or substance
a flimsy scarf that was more for decoration than for warmth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unlikely
not likely to be true or to occur
"The check is in the mail" is a pretty flimsy and tired excuse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flimsy
The fabric is breathable and lightweight without feeling thin or flimsy and the fit is slightly oversized, which gives it a relaxed and casual look that isn’t sloppy.
—
Megan Schaltegger, Travel + Leisure, 27 Jan. 2025
To many lawyers, the rationale offered by Mr. McHenry, that the president has authority under Article II of the Constitution, was flimsy, and the actions violated both the letter and the spirit of longstanding law.
—Devlin Barrett, New York Times, 29 Jan. 2025
Best Size Range: Cherokee Pros Wide range of sizes and lengths
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Pieces under $30
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Reviewers say both shirts and pants can run large
Cherokee scrubs use a twill-style fabric that’s stretchy and drapes comfortably, but doesn’t feel flimsy.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 29 Jan. 2025
Yet when juxtaposed against the litany of facts and figures, these inventions are exposed as flimsy, easily dwarfed by the documentation.
—Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for flimsy 
Megan Schaltegger, Travel + Leisure, 27 Jan. 2025
To many lawyers, the rationale offered by Mr. McHenry, that the president has authority under Article II of the Constitution, was flimsy, and the actions violated both the letter and the spirit of longstanding law.
—Devlin Barrett, New York Times, 29 Jan. 2025
Best Size Range: Cherokee Pros Wide range of sizes and lengths
21 color options
Pieces under $30
Cons
Reviewers say both shirts and pants can run large
Cherokee scrubs use a twill-style fabric that’s stretchy and drapes comfortably, but doesn’t feel flimsy.
—Sara Coughlin, SELF, 29 Jan. 2025
Yet when juxtaposed against the litany of facts and figures, these inventions are exposed as flimsy, easily dwarfed by the documentation.
—Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for flimsy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flimsy
Adjective
-
Salads Salads don’t have to feel flimsy or unsubstantial.—
Katie Workman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Sep. 2023
-
From a personal finance perspective, people with extra cash should feel free to put an unsubstantial portion of their wealth into high-risk, high-volatility assets like crypto or meme stocks or even Super Bowl bets (thanks for the two-touchdown performance, Cooper Kupp).—
Scott Nover,
Quartz,
14 Feb. 2022
Adjective
-
Fans responded with mixed emotions Sunday night at the Super Bowl when an anti-hate campaign got an unlikely spokesperson.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA TODAY,
11 Feb. 2025
-
Khamenei's firm stance suggests that talks under Trump's terms are unlikely, while Tehran and Washington continue their standoff.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
But, taking these study findings from here all the way down the drug development pipeline to where there’s a safe and effective new drug on the market is expected to take a long time and a not insubstantial amount of money.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
21 Jan. 2025
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With a not insubstantial piece of Mexico’s economy reliant on production stateside, a cessation of those inflows will logically impoverish a big number of those formerly sustained directly by remittances.—
John Tamny,
Forbes,
4 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Menzel — who also provided additional contributions to the piece — effortlessly balances the different sides of her character, building something that feels deeply tangible yet fragile and completely unique.—
Raven Brunner,
People.com,
14 Feb. 2025
-
However, these works — all written by men — portrayed Veronika as a fragile, submissive woman, passively awaiting her fate.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
No matter how far-fetched the premise or gossamer-thin the story, the musical invites (compels) us to go along with its essential surrealism, to travel to that dream space where everyday life suddenly moves and sounds deliriously out of this world.—
Manohla Dargis,
New York Times,
7 May 2020
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For her label Anissa Aida, designer Anissa Meddeb, who lives in the capital, makes gossamer silk blouses evoking the striped motif of handwoven fouta towels and voluminous coats inspired by the burnoose cloaks worn by Berbers.—
Sarah Khan,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Feb. 2020
Adjective
-
Bridges were needed not just to fulfill a gauzy City Beautiful dream, but for practical reasons.—
Gary Kamiya,
San Francisco Chronicle,
4 Mar. 2022
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Having grown up working in his mother’s Los Angeles hair salon, Bradford adopted a primary artmaking material that is not paint, but rather small gauzy papers used to curl hair.—
Matthew Bourbon,
Dallas News,
22 Apr. 2020
Adjective
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Maybe her semi-see-through outfit spoke to that even more loudly than the song, as a salute to sheer endurance.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
15 Feb. 2025
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Use the Right Window Fixtures Instead of heavy drapes and black-out blinds, stick to sheer window treatments.—
Katelyn Squiers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Special Items Whether antiques, cherished knickknacks, or heirlooms, items that are very delicate and/or precious to the customer are typically items house cleaners won’t want to mess with in order to cut down the risk of damaging them.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
9 Feb. 2025
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Artificial intelligence is even peering through the most impenetrable of artifacts: ancient, charred scrolls that are too delicate to be unfurled.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN,
8 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near flimsy
Cite this Entry
“Flimsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flimsy. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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