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

Where in the past, refunds were considered “free money,” rising costs have forced people to use them less frivolously, and more out of necessity.

From Salon • Apr. 10, 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

“When you’re a kid frivolously playing with something you think is a toy, this is what happens.”

From New York Times • Jan. 5, 2022

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