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

Catios that only cost a few hundred dollars are generally flimsy and won't last long or truly protect against predators. — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026 An unassuming woman waltzed through their offices and allegedly robbed the institution of $15 million, armed not with a weapon, but flimsy paperwork and a basket of pies. — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026 Blanche will face tough decisions over whether to press forward with charging notable enemies of the president, with previous sets of charges often facing criticism from legal experts for being based on flimsy legal arguments. — Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 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 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 15 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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