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silly
[ sil-ee ]
adjective
- weak-minded or lacking good sense; stupid or foolish:
a silly writer.
Synonyms: dull-witted, dull, dim, dense, brainless, senseless, witless
Antonyms: sensible
a silly idea.
Synonyms: preposterous, nonsensical, asinine, inane
- humorous and playful in a clownish, whimsical, or exaggerated way; showing unrestrained high spirits:
With a few April Fools’ Day tricks, students have a respite from seriousness and get to just be silly and laugh.
He knocked me silly.
- Cricket. (of a fielder or the fielder's playing position) extremely close to the batsman's wicket:
silly mid off.
- Archaic. rustic; plain; homely.
- Archaic. weak; helpless.
- Obsolete. lowly in rank or state; humble.
noun
- Informal. a silly or foolish person:
Don't be such a silly.
silly
/ ˈsɪlɪ /
adjective
- lacking in good sense; absurd
- frivolous, trivial, or superficial
- feeble-minded
- dazed, as from a blow
- obsolete.homely or humble
noun
- modifier cricket (of a fielding position) near the batsman's wicket
silly mid-on
- informal.Also calledsilly-billy -lies a foolish person
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Derived Forms
- ˈsilliness, noun
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Other Words From
- sil·li·ly adverb
- sil·li·ness noun
- un·sil·ly adjective
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of silly1
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Example Sentences
Forget those silly “games played with the ball”; they are far “too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind.”
Aside from reaching an international audience, leaving Oz had another benefit—no more silly intrusions into her privacy.
It is loathed by some critics who find it patronizing, silly, and superficial.
So, happy 20th birthday to this proudly silly fashion classic.
It was sexy, silly, and—in those relatively modest times—sensational.
If he would take her a little more seriously—it 's an immense pity he married her because she was silly!
I wonder why wise men choose silly wives always, she added consciously, playing with the reins.
I just sit there, knocked plumb silly, almost, and looked at a big rose in the carpet.
Not only good taste, but health is often sacrificed to the silly error of dressing in the extreme of fashion.
Think of carelessly carrying a hundred dollars in a silly purse like that!
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