flimsy

[flim-zee]

adjective

flimsier, flimsiest 

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: vague, lame, unconvincing

noun

plural

flimsies 

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. a slang word for banknote

Other Word Forms

• flimsiness noun
• flimsily adverb

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

As fighting neared, the family moved from place to place, settling each time in a flimsy tent only to be forced to pack up and flee again.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The Graham company based “En Messe” on a flimsy premise, the discovery of a page or two of sketches that Bernstein made for a proposed score he meant to write for Graham in 1988.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

As a result, the flimsy narrative gets more bite.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The development could force desperate Haitians to flee to the Dominican Republic or board flimsy boats to other nations.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Newsrooms, tech companies and TV networks cower before a president bringing his critics to heel with threats of flimsy lawsuits.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

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