flimsy

[ flim-zee ]

adjective

, flim·si·er, flim·si·est.

1. without material strength or solidity:

   a flimsy fabric; a flimsy structure.

   Synonyms: unsteady, unstable, weak, shoddy

   Antonyms: sturdy

2. weak; inadequate; not effective or convincing:

   a flimsy excuse.

   Synonyms: unconvincing, vague, lame

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.

flimsy

/ ˈflɪmzɪ /

adjective

1. not strong or substantial; fragile

   a flimsy building

2. light and thin

   a flimsy dress

3. 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
3. a slang word for banknote

Derived Forms

• ˈflimsiness, noun
• ˈflimsily, adverb

Other Words From

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of flimsy¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of flimsy¹

C17: of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

Beans is never fazed by the challenge, but the characters can’t help but come across as flimsy masks.

From Los Angeles Times

"This is a bad sign. It suggests an unchastened Supreme Court poised to help Trump suppress lawful votes on the flimsiest basis," added Harvard legal scholar Laurence Tribe.

From Salon

Comparing one to a “death trap”, he says it would be “appallingly dangerous” to pack dozens of people onto these boats for a Channel crossing, because of what appears to be a “tremendously flimsy” design.

From BBC

These are apartment buildings with carports, garages or retail stores on the ground floor, with flimsy supports that can collapse in the side-to-side shaking of an earthquake.

From Los Angeles Times

A Home Office spokesperson said the gangs arranging the transport "only care about profit" - and the more recent crossings had seen "more people crammed into flimsy and dangerous boats".

From BBC

Related Words

• chiffon
• decrepit
• feeble
• insubstantial
• rickety
• shaky
• tacky