GOSSAMER Synonyms: 92 Similar and Opposite Words

gossamer 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of gossamer

as in gauzy

being of a material lacking in sturdiness or substance fairies are usually depicted as wearing gossamer or tattered clothing

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in fluffy

resembling air in lightness the gossamer veil seemed to float about the bride as she walked down the aisle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sheer

very thin and easy to see through didn't see the gossamer spider webs until the sun hit them just right

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

gossamer

2 of 2

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of gossamer

Adjective

The phrase Silk Road evokes caravans on the horizon spinning a colossal web across the desert, with mountains of gossamer fabrics, ideologies, and discoveries ferried from China to Europe and back. — Sarah Khan, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Nov. 2022 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

Noun

There needed to be some consequences; otherwise, the show would become gossamer-thin. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 7 June 2026 The line between excitement and danger is gossamer thin. — Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 29 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for gossamer

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gossamer

Adjective

Most of the time, senators exercising this role must rely on gauzy assurances and strained analogies to the candidate’s performance in previous positions.

— Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2026
The late-morning sun peeked through a gauzy veil of fog, bright laughter echoing over the giddy whisper of tulle as the brides posed for pictures outside the Santa Barbara County Courthouse.

— Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026

Definition of gauzy

Adjective

Nothing beats the feeling of crisp, fresh white sheets and fluffy white towels, those mini bottles of shampoo and plastic-wrapped bars of tiny soap.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2026
Inside, down-alternative filling gives it a fluffy feel, while box stitching keeps the fill from shifting around.

— Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of fluffy

Adjective

The facts of his biography, no matter how outrageous, could not possibly explain the sheer derangement of his output.

— Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
This means investor scrutiny will extend beyond the sheer scale of AI investment to encompass debt burdens, capital costs, and return timelines.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of sheer

Noun

Investors are hopeful that last month’s artificial intelligence unwind skimmed enough of the froth from the market, so that stocks can continue to climb for another few weeks at least.

— Sarah Min, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026
But the film, which recently premiered internationally at Fantasia, ultimately works up enough of a perverse froth to attract fans of screen fantasy in forms more sophisticatedly packaged than the pulpy norm.

— Dennis Harvey, Variety, 30 July 2026

Definition of froth

Adjective

Unlike other flimsy flip-flops, this style has arch support built into the contoured cork-latex footbed for comfort that lasts well beyond your first few strides.

— Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026
Luckily for everyone involved, the barriers were the flimsy plastic kind; otherwise, this might’ve ended up being fodder for the World Bollard Association.

— Frank Landymore, Futurism, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of flimsy

Adjective

Wonder also has a transparent compensation system so employees can see what others at the company make.

— Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
Moreover, perovskites are lightweight and can be engineered to be semi-transparent, enabling Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV).

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of transparent

Noun

The cinna-fluff pretzel, for example, is a cinnamon-sugar pretzel that has marshmallow fluff and nutella on it.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026
After more than a year of use, the pillow can slope slightly overnight; a quick fluff brings it largely back to shape.

— Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of fluff

Adjective

But too few of those ideas yield satisfying conclusions, resulting in a drama that becomes treacly and insubstantial, reaching for a profundity that remains elusive.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 May 2026
The wall was as insubstantial as a set on a film studio’s back lot.

— Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026

Definition of insubstantial

Browse Nearby Words

gospels

gossamer

gossamery

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“Gossamer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gossamer. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of gossamer

adjective

noun

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