frilly

[ fril-ee ]

/ ˈfrɪl i /

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See synonyms for frilly on Thesaurus.com

adjective, frill·i·er, frill·i·est.

covered with or marked by frills: Some of the more elaborate dress shirts have frilly fronts.

frivolous; inconsequential: After a day of intense concentration and serious business, they feel like doing something frilly and amusing.

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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of frilly

First recorded in 1835–45; frill + -y¹

OTHER WORDS FROM frilly

frill·i·ness, nounun·frill·y, adjective

Words nearby frilly

frijoles refritos, frill, frilled lizard, frilling, frill-necked lizard, frilly, Frimaire, Friml, fringe, fringe area, fringe benefit

How to use frilly in a sentence

Perhaps you’ll notice a cluster of frilly pink shelves on a log or a striking purple mushroom that’s a doppelgänger for underwater coral.
Meet the fungal friends and foes that surround us|Allie Wilkinson|September 6, 2022|Science News
While they might not be as fancy and frilly as their more expensive counterparts, there are several options that are stable, easy to use, and offer a great user experience.
Best drones under $100 of 2022|Chelsea Frank|May 22, 2022|Popular-Science
Imagine putting some poor young actress in the position of having to live up to Rita Moreno twirling her frilly skirt through “America” as Anita!
Why the new West Side Story works — and one thing that doesn’t|Constance Grady|December 10, 2021|Vox
Though not overly elaborate or frilly, a really good loaf is just as elegant and impressive as any round, stacked masterpiece.
A Cake You Can’t Mess Up|Elazar Sontag|April 1, 2021|Eater

A 50-year-old mother of six, she urged like-minded women to wear their “most frilly, feminine dress” and bring their husband a “delicious breakfast with a smile in bed” that day.
Women's Equality Day Is a Reminder That the Fight for Women’s Rights Didn’t End With the 19th Amendment|Leandra Zarnow|August 26, 2020|Time
New Orleanians loved the frilly, pale lavender flowers and gradually planted them as decorations around the city in garden ponds.
Lake Bacon: The Story of The Man Who Wanted Us to Eat Mississippi Hippos|Jon Mooallem|August 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The heaps of gifted and hand-me-down pink frilly clothes and accessories grew far faster than we were able to sort and store them.
Why I Finally Let My Girls Be Girly|Andy Hinds|May 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Next out was Madeline, a one-and-a-half year old Sphinx in a frilly pink ballerina outfit.
Kitty CATure Fashion Show, An Amazing Dog and Cat Fashion Show, Happened In New York This Weekend|Lori-Lee Emshey|September 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Flourishes of ruffles spread out from beneath the hemline, like a frilly skirt.
A Fashion Spectacle at Comme des Garçons|Liza Foreman|September 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
What could have been a frilly flop was given weight by DiCaprio and Mulligan, and Maguire, too.
‘The Great Gatsby’ Debate: Is Baz Luhrmann’s Film Genius or Rubbish?|Marlow Stern, Isabel Wilkinson|May 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
To her new-fangled dress, frilly about the hips and tight below the knees, June took a sudden liking—a charming colour, flax-blue.
The Forsyte Saga, Volume III.|John Galsworthy
When she was asleep, he said, he would hop on to the frilly things of her night-gown and peck at her mouth.
The Little White Bird|J. M. Barrie
Lily looked like nothing but a very frilly, sweet, white flower.
The Copy-Cat and Other Stories|Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
She came down soon, wearing a loose, frilly, wrapperlike garment which hid her figure.
Sundry Accounts|Irvin S. Cobb
From it emerged Mildred and Nan in all the glory of fresh and frilly lawns and the latest in hats from a Louisville milliner.
The Comings of Cousin Ann|Emma Speed Sampson