1
as in goofy
lacking in seriousness or maturity
the matinee show was filled with a bunch of silly children making noise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stupid
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment
those silly movie producers who thought that audiences would fall for that gimmick all over again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in ridiculous
so foolish or pointless as to be worthy of scornful laughter
had the silly notion that her latest marriage might last longer than her three previous ones
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in bewildered
suffering from mental confusion
stunning news that knocked me silly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in simpleton
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of silly
Ego Nwodim, TIME, 12 Feb. 2025
Some more sillies from last night’s GRAMMY nominees reception.
—Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 4 Feb. 2025
Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 11 Sep. 2025
However, most people do not leave their toothbrush behind, so why leave the silly things that only weigh one-tenth of an ounce?
—Marjorie “slim” Woodruff, Denver Post, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for silly
Adjective
It was shot in portrait because it was shot in Instagram by and for a woman who was losing her mind in quarantine and had fully let the sillies take the wheel.
—Ego Nwodim, TIME, 12 Feb. 2025
Some more sillies from last night’s GRAMMY nominees reception.
—Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 4 Feb. 2025
Noun
The last few years this have seen this subcategory exchange its trendiness for a position as a legitimate niche market with the lower-tier of silly genre programmers.
—Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 11 Sep. 2025
However, most people do not leave their toothbrush behind, so why leave the silly things that only weigh one-tenth of an ounce?
—Marjorie “slim” Woodruff, Denver Post, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for silly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silly
Adjective
-
Even the goofy Mexican costumes are well-made and pleasant to look at.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
The quarterback has a self-effacing sense of humor and a goofy giggle that rang out several times in his postgame news conference.—
Matt Barrows,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Jimmy Kimmel said something stupid and should apologize.—
Jesse Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Yeah, stupid s--- like this apparently is gonna keep happening for the next three years.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The 2016 World Series champion walked in free agency that offseason to the Philadelphia Phillies where he's produced at a ridiculous level on a perennial National League contender.—
Tim Crowley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Like his Washington, Bargatze’s Farnsworth regaled a trio of underlings (SNL cast members Bowen Yang, Mikey Day, and James Austin Johnson) with ridiculous yet accurate predictions for the future, in this case of TV.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Looking at the Williams in the wrong spot, the crew looked bewildered, while one person signaled Sainz to move on.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Cody Meissner, a pediatric professor at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine who has served on ACIP in the past—arguably the most qualified of Kennedy's new lineup—was bewildered at why the committee was rehashing the issue addressed years ago.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Gamble, seeing there was no way to get anywhere with the chancellor playing the simpleton, opened the floor to softball questions.—
Thomas Meaney,
Harper's Magazine,
26 Apr. 2024
-
His competition was Forrest Gump, a feel-good studio drama that located America’s soul in a sweet simpleton played by Tom Hanks.—
Michael Schulman,
Vulture,
21 Feb. 2023
Adjective
-
The two lovebirds were snapped looking giddy and in love if this blast from the past.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Today's talkers Travis Kelce is giddy.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The pattern of blaming star players, whether Cristiano Ronaldo or Marcus Rashford, is looking foolish, and the side has plummeted in form.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
That’s penny wise, not pour foolish.—
David Dickstein,
Oc Register,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Larsen makes Didi’s absurd actions feel credible, something a woman frustrated with her own life would do, in haste, on behalf of another.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Tim Dollar, a Kansas City attorney who represented the family of one of Biscari’s crash victims, said the union’s argument that Biscari was disciplined unfairly compared to other firefighters was absurd.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Silly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silly. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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