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Synonyms

silliness

American  
[sil-ee-nis] / ˈsɪl i nɪs /

noun

  1. the quality of lacking good sense; foolishness.

    The author pokes fun at herself and the general silliness of celebrity culture.

    Her blog cuts through the contradictions, misinformation, and downright silliness out there about naturopathy.

  2. absurdity, ridiculousness, or irrationality.

    This “no-touch” policy occasionally devolves into silliness, as when a teacher hesitates to help a five-year-old zip up a jacket.

  3. clownish, whimsical, or exaggerated humor and playfulness; unrestrained high spirits.

    Our sessions included a lot of chatter, laughter, and silliness—exactly what sitting around a table playing games with friends is all about.


Etymology

Origin of silliness

silly ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

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.

There’s an underlying tension in the show because it walks a line between silliness and graveness.

From Los Angeles Times

Pierson notes that the songs were more "linear and traditional" than the scattergun silliness of their earlier work.

From BBC

Despite the silliness, many scientists appreciate the Ig Nobels.

From Barron's

The characters’ propensity for ugly faces, silliness and a bit of grossness too, stems from the portrayals of girlhood and young womanhood that appeal to them.

From Los Angeles Times

It was one of the few moments in her otherwise excellent performance when subtlety gives way to silliness.

From Los Angeles Times