Synonyms

frivolously

American

[friv-uh-luhs-lee] / ˈfrɪv ə ləs li /

adverb

in a way that is characterized by lack of seriousness, good sense, or any worthwhile purpose.

He had an income comfortable enough that he could spend some of it frivolously and extravagantly.
I'm not asking the question frivolously; I am in earnest.

Other Word Forms

unfrivolously adverb

Etymology

Origin of frivolously

frivolous ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Sometimes it's weighing the option, so I must ensure I've got money for the bus, but I can't just use it frivolously because I might need it for something else," she said.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2025

“We can’t throw things to space frivolously and say, ‘Well, if it doesn’t work, let’s build another one.’”

From Science Magazine • Aug. 10, 2022

To act so frivolously was not only insensitive, it was dangerous.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 14, 2021

I expanded my barn, spent a little frivolously at the annual night market, purchased some ducks and upgraded a fellow villager's home — all from making jam.

From Salon • Jun. 9, 2021

He writes he’s not with Sien without thought, frivolously, but “in damned earnest.”

From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023