as in lightness
a lack of seriousness often at an improper time
the boys were scolded for joking during the funeral service, which was hardly the time for frivolity
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Recent Examples of frivolity
While Harrison Ford gets first billing, women rule this absolutely rollicking flick (with nods to its screwball forebears) that is at once a riot, a smart exploration of the era’s frivolity, and an interrogation of class, power structures, ambition, and loyalty.
—
John Ortved, Vogue, 28 Nov. 2025
Sending up the no-stakes frivolity of progressive Reform Judaism, characters played by Seth Rogen and Kate Berlant get some insight-free chuckles.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
The protagonist’s diabolical plot is fuelled by an unmanageable tangle of emotions, including raging jealousy, mercenary self-interest, and resentment of Eileen’s professional and intellectual accomplishments, which sparks shame at her own cosseted frivolity.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
For the forgiving, these simulcasts have insights and frivolities each Monday.
—Jenny Catlin, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frivolity
John Ortved, Vogue, 28 Nov. 2025
Sending up the no-stakes frivolity of progressive Reform Judaism, characters played by Seth Rogen and Kate Berlant get some insight-free chuckles.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
The protagonist’s diabolical plot is fuelled by an unmanageable tangle of emotions, including raging jealousy, mercenary self-interest, and resentment of Eileen’s professional and intellectual accomplishments, which sparks shame at her own cosseted frivolity.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
For the forgiving, these simulcasts have insights and frivolities each Monday.
—Jenny Catlin, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for frivolity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frivolity
Noun
-
Rather than allowing its typical lightness, Benning layers their brushstrokes purposefully so as to establish new kinds of relationships, both pictorial and material.—
Alex Bacon,
Artforum,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Instead, there's a certain lightness to February's feels.—
Calin Van Paris,
InStyle,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
There is plenty of silliness in this year’s commercials.—
Dee-Ann Durbin,
Fortune,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The silliness betrays the seriousness.—
J. Aaron Sanders,
STAT,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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When Huskies head coach Dan Hurley called a timeout, a sellout crowd of 19,812 erupted with deafening glee.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
7 Feb. 2026
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In so doing, Censori and Ye ruined it—to her glee.—
Anna Peele,
Vanity Fair,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
His cheerfulness and laughter often brought strength and refreshment to me in difficult times.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
4 Feb. 2026
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Raines replied, her usual cheerfulness stepping up a notch.—
Rebecca Boone,
Fortune,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Also, the film is obviously very heavy and dealing with challenging stuff, but in between, [there’s] levity.—
Beatrice Verhoeven,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
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As an example of just how close people can get to the herd, there was a moment of levity at the event when one of the elephants began flinging what was believed to be a mixture of dirt and feces up onto the bridge.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Crucial here is that the markets confirm the flippancy found in the previous question, and much more importantly, would have confirmed it then if anyone had been asking.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
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The flippancy of the title evokes the internet as Purgatory.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
18 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Frivolity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frivolity. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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