flimsy

1 of 2

adjective

flim·sy ˈflim-zē

flimsier; flimsiest

Synonyms of flimsy

: lacking in physical strength or substance

flimsy silks

wore a flimsy dress

: of inferior materials and workmanship

flimsy construction

: having little worth or plausibility

a flimsy excuse

a movie with a flimsy plot

flimsily

ˈflim-zə-lē

adverb

flimsiness

ˈflim-zē-nəs

noun

flimsy

2 of 2

noun

plural flimsies

chiefly British

: a lightweight paper used especially for multiple copies

also : a document printed on flimsy

Examples of flimsy in a Sentence

Adjective a flimsy piece of material They have only the flimsiest of evidence against him. a movie with a flimsy plot

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Adjective

Their flimsy frame is made of a strip of beige plastic, with the display covering only one eye. — Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 6 Aug. 2026 Breezy without feeling flimsy, this short-sleeve button-down and straight-leg pant duo keeps things light and comfy throughout the day. — Paris Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 2 Aug. 2026 Cheap tripods are often flimsy and can fall over and wiggle from a light breeze. — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026 White button-down shirts have both star power and staying power, but the key is to choose one that isn’t sheer or flimsy. — Tanya Sharma, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for flimsy

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

perhaps alteration of film entry 1 + -sy (as in tricksy)

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1702, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1814, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of flimsy was circa 1702

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

flimsiness

flimsy

flinch

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Flimsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flimsy. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

flimsy

adjective

flim·sy

ˈflim-zē

flimsier; flimsiest

: not strong or solid

flimsy clothes

a flimsy old car

: not likely or convincing

a flimsy excuse

a movie with a flimsy plot

flimsily

-zə-lē

adverb

flimsiness

-zē-nəs

noun

flimsy

adjective

noun

Synonyms of flimsy

Examples of flimsy in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

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