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

Into this vacuum stepped an array of noble sons and daughters with even the flimsiest claim to the throne. — Eva Wolchover, Vanity Fair, 27 Oct. 2026 Trump’s lawyers begged the appeals court to take their flimsy case away from the judge who had already promised to rule on their requests on Tuesday. — Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026 The case feels sturdy enough, but the dial’s attachment wiggles enough to feel flimsy. — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026 Pack with intention Ayoub frequently sees people underestimate the value of proper packing supplies and trying to fit too much into a flimsy container. — Perri Ormont Blumberg, Architectural Digest, 12 Oct. 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 1 Nov. 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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