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View synonyms for flimsy

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

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. thin paper used for making carbon copies of a letter, etc
  2. a copy made on such paper
  3. a slang word for banknote
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈflimsiness, noun
  • ˈflimsily, adverb
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Other Words From

  • flimsi·ly adverb
  • flimsi·ness noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of flimsy1

1695–1705; flim- (perhaps metathetic variant of film ) + -sy
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Word History and Origins

Origin of flimsy1

C17: of uncertain origin
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Example Sentences

In these buildings, the ground floor can be held up by flimsy, skinny poles that can collapse when shaken side-to-side in an earthquake.

Beans is never fazed by the challenge, but the characters can’t help but come across as flimsy masks.

"This is a bad sign. It suggests an unchastened Supreme Court poised to help Trump suppress lawful votes on the flimsiest basis," added Harvard legal scholar Laurence Tribe.

From Salon

Comparing one to a “death trap”, he says it would be “appallingly dangerous” to pack dozens of people onto these boats for a Channel crossing, because of what appears to be a “tremendously flimsy” design.

From BBC

These are apartment buildings with carports, garages or retail stores on the ground floor, with flimsy supports that can collapse in the side-to-side shaking of an earthquake.

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