flimsy

[ flim-zee ]

adjective

, flim·si·er, flim·si·est.

1. without material strength or solidity:

   a flimsy fabric; a flimsy structure.

   Synonyms: unsteady, unstable, weak, shoddy

   Antonyms: sturdy

2. weak; inadequate; not effective or convincing:

   a flimsy excuse.

   Synonyms: unconvincing, vague, lame

noun

, plural flim·sies.

1. a thin kind of paper, especially for use in making several copies at a time of an article, telegraphic dispatch, or the like, as in newspaper work.
2. a copy of a report or dispatch on such paper.

flimsy

/ ˈflɪmzɪ /

adjective

1. not strong or substantial; fragile

   a flimsy building

2. light and thin

   a flimsy dress

3. unconvincing or inadequate; weak

   a flimsy excuse

noun

1. thin paper used for making carbon copies of a letter, etc
2. a copy made on such paper
3. See banknote
   a slang word for banknote

Derived Forms

• ˈflimsiness, noun
• ˈflimsily, adverb

Other Words From

• flimsi·ly adverb
• flimsi·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of flimsy¹

1695–1705; flim- (perhaps metathetic variant of film ) + -sy

Word History and Origins

Origin of flimsy¹

C17: of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

At under nine ounces per shoe, they feel flimsy out of the box, but even after a couple hundred miles they still have plenty of life.

From Outside Online

Then there’s the reality that we are living in a global pandemic with a flimsy-at-best path to recovery.

From Washington Post

When it comes to looking at CBD for pain relief, the research is even more flimsy.

From Popular-Science

On one of the planes, the only thing separating the infected from the non-infected was a flimsy plastic sheet.

From ProPublica

The long-awaited tech antitrust report that the US Congress released on October 6 presents a remarkably flimsy case for action against the nation’s most innovative and competitive companies.

From MIT Technology Review

When it comes to invading foreign countries on false or flimsy pretexts, the Russians have lots of company.

From The Daily Beast

Yet the scenery for this annus mirabilis production has always been rather flimsy.

From The Daily Beast

On the last Sunday in March, Marina is hanging diapers on a flimsy clothesline stuck in the grass in the small backyard.

From The Daily Beast

Then she disappeared, leaving me by myself in that flimsy little dress, my makeup smudged and my hair all over the place.

From The Daily Beast

Zuckerberg, or at least the narrow, shallow portrait painted of him in The Social Network, seems to embody that flimsy promise.

From The Daily Beast

That is a very flimsy pretext, so that the fiscals may not perform their duties faithfully against the governor.

From Project Gutenberg

But Garnache's rash temper, rising anew, tore that last flimsy chance to shreds.

From Project Gutenberg

In doing this engines were built of such flimsy construction that they soon went to pieces.

From Project Gutenberg

Its flimsy lock broke easily under the pressure, and he sprang inside.

From Project Gutenberg

Poor Mrs. Morton was a flimsy woman, without much stamina, mental or bodily.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• chiffon
• decrepit
• feeble
• insubstantial
• rickety
• shaky
• tacky