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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of silly
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 June 2026
The few that do veer off in unexpected directions—including a delightfully silly take on the Alamo—are some of the show’s best, using the Larry character as a springboard rather than an end in himself.
—
Judy Berman,
Time,
24 June 2026
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
17 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for silly
Adjective
There isn’t quite the same emotional heft here as there is in Raiders of the Lost Ark, but Temple of Doom ups the silly quotient, and fans have been arguing ever since about which film is better.
—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 June 2026
The few that do veer off in unexpected directions—including a delightfully silly take on the Alamo—are some of the show’s best, using the Larry character as a springboard rather than an end in himself.
—
Judy Berman,
Time,
24 June 2026
Noun
But no, sillies: Bradley is white, famous and pretty — no jail time for her!
—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
17 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for silly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silly
Adjective
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One detour led me to Paul Krassner, a founding member of the Yippies, a radical (and radically goofy) New Left group.
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Alongside Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, Velma Dinkley and his best friend, Shaggy Rogers, Scooby spent decades unmasking supposedly supernatural villains while winning over generations of fans with his goofy charm, insatiable appetite and signature catchphrases.
Adjective
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But even the most perfect Constitution can be undone by the wicked with the help of the bought, the stupid, and the cowardly.
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White can believe Hokit said something stupid and still believe fighters should be allowed to speak for themselves.
Adjective
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Americans may have become too intolerant of heat, but this is patently ridiculous.
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And the old person who rebels is ridiculous.
Adjective
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Fido was fine, if a little bewildered, and in February 1973, the board lifted its book bans.
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At the risk of sounding less like a columnist and more like a bewildered bystander … what the heck happened?
Noun
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Max initially dismisses Becky, a college dropout turned temp, as a bubbly simpleton, far below his intellectual rank.
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Gamble, seeing there was no way to get anywhere with the chancellor playing the simpleton, opened the floor to softball questions.
Adjective
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Ureña, a 22-year-old right-hander who has emerged as another potential ace, speaks of Soriano with a giddy amusement mixed with a solemn respect for how the starter has survived in the big leagues.
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For now, the stock market and the credit market are telling slightly different stories about the same companies, one giddy and one wary.
Adjective
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Further, Plato’s disdain for Gorgias, Antisthenes’ first teacher, and sophistry in general is clear; in the Platonic dialogue Gorgias, the titular character is made out to be rather foolish.
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One is villianized and one is made to look foolish.
Adjective
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The 41-year-old is still an elite NBA player, which is still an absurd reality to consider.
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The thesis rests on a claim that would have sounded absurd a year ago.
Cite this Entry
“Silly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silly. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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