flimsy

[ flim-zee ]
See synonyms for flimsy on Thesaurus.com
adjective,flim·si·er, flim·si·est.
  1. without material strength or solidity: a flimsy fabric; a flimsy structure.

  2. weak; inadequate; not effective or convincing: a flimsy excuse.

noun,plural flim·sies.
  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.

Origin of flimsy

1
1695–1705; flim- (perhaps metathetic variant of film) + -sy

Other words for flimsy

Opposites for flimsy

Other words from flimsy

  • flim·si·ly, adverb
  • flim·si·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use flimsy in a sentence

  • The flimsiness of the deal itself reflects how much payback risk remains more generally.

  • Of course, when Hannity finally got to his “new allegations,” the only thing shocking about them was their flimsiness.

    Hannity's Gay Target | Michelle Goldberg | October 8, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • The house itself was plain, and both inside and out had a certain aspect of flimsiness.

    Amy in Acadia | Helen Leah Reed
  • As a rule, the house is of but one story, and its flimsiness comes from two reasons, both very good ones.

  • Bitterly cold weather suddenly arrived, however, which made us aware of the flimsiness of the French huts in which we dwelt.

British Dictionary definitions for flimsy

flimsy

/ (ˈflɪmzɪ) /


adjective-sier or -siest
  1. not strong or substantial; fragile: a flimsy building

  2. light and thin: a flimsy dress

  1. 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

  1. a slang word for banknote

Origin of flimsy

1
C17: of uncertain origin

Derived forms of flimsy

  • flimsily, adverb
  • flimsiness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012