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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flimsy
The vast majority live in flimsy tents or makeshift shelters, with no reliable supplies of the essentials for life — and very few sources of income.
—
José Andrés, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026
What the evaluation process actually looks like A major myth says online screens are flimsy or amateurish.
—Lucy Jones
april 11, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
While other contestants achieved varying results by playing it straight, Rhod Gilbert tied up Horne instead, leaving Horne unable to untie the flimsy rope that Gilbert fastened around his own wrists.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 Apr. 2026
The build quality feels durable and premium, not flimsy like many wagons.
—Laura Lu, Parents, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flimsy
José Andrés, semafor.com, 13 Apr. 2026
What the evaluation process actually looks like A major myth says online screens are flimsy or amateurish.
—Lucy Jones
april 11, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
While other contestants achieved varying results by playing it straight, Rhod Gilbert tied up Horne instead, leaving Horne unable to untie the flimsy rope that Gilbert fastened around his own wrists.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 Apr. 2026
The build quality feels durable and premium, not flimsy like many wagons.
—Laura Lu, Parents, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flimsy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flimsy
Adjective
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This can alter the amount and types of ACE-inhibiting peptides created during fermentation2—and possibly account for kombucha's unsubstantial effect on blood pressure.—
MD Published,
Verywell Health,
27 Dec. 2025
-
Then again … This really does sum up Reeves’s unsubstantial performance as Jonathan Harker, whose new client is definitely up to no good.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Attempting to close this gap solely by raising the gas tax would require a dramatic increase that is unlikely to be politically viable.—
Andrew Stasiowski,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
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But analysts said the new model is unlikely to send markets into the kind of frenzy the previous one did.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The wall was as insubstantial as a set on a film studio’s back lot.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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Even with her strong work, the film around her always feels, at best, insubstantial, and, at worst, incomplete.—
Chase Hutchinson,
IndieWire,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
These conditions have fueled widespread reports of labor exploitation, environmental damage and violent disputes over territory, while mercury contamination from gold extraction has posed serious risks to indigenous communities and fragile ecosystems.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
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Installations create striking contrasts between fragile glass and living plants, a hallmark of Chihuly’s large-scale outdoor works.—
Ginger Crichton,
Midwest Living,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The type of memory flashbacks that are shot at knee level, gauzy and out of focus, with a gossamer visual touch to conjure whispering, buried emotions of the past.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
17 Feb. 2026
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Perverts By turns a budding chart sensation, a political firebrand, and an enthusiastic cataloguer of cryptids, Ethel Cain interrupts a stream of gossamer pop, folk, and rock records with Perverts, a droning rejection of the accessibility of her 2022 Billboard top-ten debut Preacher’s Daughter.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
2 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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After snapping photos of the bride all dressed up in a long gauzy veil and a white halterdress, the reality star—who wore a white sports bra with a white bathrobe tied around her waist—changed into a polarizing skirt set for the ceremony.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
1 Apr. 2026
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The gauzy texture is made from organic cotton, and the decorative pillow shams have a highly dimensional stitching.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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But the 6-foot-5 Dennis-Sutton’s potential and sheer agility are off the charts, at his size.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
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The format has its limitations, though — the most obvious for fans with an inclination to ship is the sheer inability to develop romantic relationships over the course of a season.—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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While discussing the delicate tone of the show and its balance of being a satire on the Hollywood movie business and a love letter to chasing your dream, Cretton said the creative team focused on character to find their way.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Apr. 2026
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Also on view are selections from the Macchia series, known for bold color combinations and ruffled edges, and the delicate Seaforms, which evoke underwater life through translucent layers of glass.—
Ginger Crichton,
Midwest Living,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flimsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flimsy. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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