silliness

noun

Definition of sillinessnext
1
as in insanity
lack of good sense or judgment she was both amused and irritated by the silliness of his comments regarding the movie they has just seen

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nonsense
language, behavior, or ideas that are absurd and contrary to good sense stop this silliness at once!

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in lightness
a lack of seriousness often at an improper time this inability to refrain from silliness is a distressing sign of professional immaturity

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of silliness That led to a whole lot of silliness. — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 2 June 2026 Every part of this song is high-energy silliness. — Charlie Harding, Vulture, 15 May 2026 Yet, away from the court, these two personify the best qualities of friendship and the silliness that comes with it. — James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 3 June 2026 Pratchett’s gift was to blend deep philosophy and complete silliness. — Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 24 May 2026 No, no jersey burnings or any of that silliness in the wake of Antetokounmpo working his way out of Milwaukee. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 27 June 2026 The silliness of that aspect of the story is baked into this interpretation, with several very meta acknowledgments. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2026 Commentors, of course, had a mixed bag of reactions, ranging from arguing that Kelce is the Duchess of Delco to criticizing the governor's silliness. — Kaitlyn McCormick, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026 But what pushed the situation from the realm of silliness to sinister was a US operation to seize Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife from their home in Caracas on January 3, 2026. — Joshua Hunt, Vanity Fair, 17 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silliness
  1. insanity
  2. nonsense
  3. lightness
  4. madness
  5. stupidity
  6. glee
  7. simplicity
  8. nuts
Noun
  • Iraq, Canada, United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Qatar, Saudi Arabia After accidentally cursing President Saddam Hussein on stage, theater actor Salem convinces a military court of his insanity to escape a death sentence.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 6 July 2026
  • San Francisco trailed 6-1 at the time of Webb’s departure, and given Coors Field’s penchant for insanity, a comeback wasn’t out of the question.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 4 July 2026
Definition of insanity
Noun
  • Until recently, that would have sounded like absolute nonsense.
    — Zach Harper, New York Times, 30 June 2026
  • There weren’t meetings with executives about tone and mood and all this nonsense.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 29 June 2026
Definition of nonsense
Noun
  • There was a sort of lightness to the mood of a team that was still trying to absorb the news.
    — Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • Hughes suggests a dusty pink or light beige to lift and soften the richness of the floor, while Alonso notes that cooler neutrals can offer a nice contrast, adding some lightness to the room.
    — Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2026
Definition of lightness
Noun
  • In the midst of the final stretch of World Cup madness, here are eight shows happening in Kansas City in July.
    — Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026
  • Either Cody or Gunther wins because Sami gets screwed; Zayn will then further descend into madness and attack someone after the bell.
    — Darren Cooper, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
Definition of madness
Noun
  • Is there a level of insanity, vitriol and stupidity that is infiltrating almost every aspect of our modern society, regardless of your political or religious views?
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026
  • Warm, fuzzy feelings for noble stupidity are an American thing, especially in politics.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 4 July 2026
Definition of stupidity
Noun
  • Although Jones takes responsibility for the hurt and dysfunction his compulsive tomcatting caused, the legendary lothario details his conquests with barely disguised glee.
    — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 3 July 2026
  • Now, there is country-wide camaraderie and glee, mainstream momentum like never before.
    — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of glee
Noun
  • Mixing knits with leather creates texture and contrast in the outfit, while the height and simplicity of these solid-color boots helps ground the overall look.
    — Abby Morgan Lebet, Glamour, 6 July 2026
  • Professionals must actively map where their risk truly lies, assessing counterparty exposure, income correlation, and cost repricing, rather than mistaking simplicity for safety.
    — Henrik Totterman, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of simplicity
Noun
  • Granola One of the original ‘health foods,’ granola contains many nutritious ingredients, such as oats, nuts, and seeds.
    — Sarah Anzlovar, Verywell Health, 4 July 2026
  • California's Central Valley, stretching some 20,000 square miles (51,800 square kilometers), is an agricultural powerhouse that's estimated to produce 40% of the nation's fruits, nuts and other table foods, including most of its nectarines.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
Definition of nuts

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Cite this Entry

“Silliness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silliness. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of silliness for Spanish Speakers

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