Flimsy
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ˈflɪmzi/ · Part of speech adjective
Quick meaning: Flimsy is an adjective meaning Likely to bend or break under pressure; easily damaged; frail, unsubstantial.
Meaning
Likely to bend or break under pressure; easily damaged; frail, unsubstantial.
More Meanings
- Of an argument, explanation, etc.: ill-founded, unconvincing, weak; also, unimportant; paltry, trivial.
- Of a person: lacking depth of character or understanding; frivolous, superficial.
- Of a person, their physical makeup, or their health: delicate, frail.
- A thing which is ill-founded, unconvincing, or weak.
- (by extension) A document printed or typed on such paper.
- (also attributive, uncountable) Thin typing paper used together with carbon paper in a typewriter to make multiple copies of a document; (countable) a sheet of such paper.
- (UK, military slang) A hexahedral metal container with a capacity of four imperial gallons (about 18 litres) used by the British Army during World War II to hold fuel.
Example Sentences
a flimsy excuse
the flimsiest of theories
He expected the flimsy structure to collapse at any moment.
[T]here always comes a day when the rouſed publick indignation kicks their flimſy edifice down, and ſends its cowardly enemies a-flying.
Word Forms
- flimsier
- flimsiest
- flimsies
- flimsying
- flimsied
Synonyms for flimsy
Depending on context, synonyms include fragile, shaky, cheap, shoddy, breakable, delicate.
Antonyms for flimsy
Common opposites include robust, strong, sturdy, well-founded, substantiated, serious.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include fragile, weak, tenuous, inferior, thin, slight.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.