flimsy

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈflɪmzi/ UK /ˈflɪmzi/ See IPA manual

adj

Meanings

1

adj
weak, insubstantial, or easily damaged; unconvincing

His alibi rested on flimsy evidence.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · weak, insubstantial, or... fragile frail insubstantial weak feeble unconvincing rickety thin

Opposites

sturdy robust solid substantial strong

Word family

Derived forms flimsilyflimsiness

Etymology

Of obscure origin, attested from the 18th century; possibly a metathesized alteration of film with the suffix -sy, suggesting something thin and film-like.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

# flimsy

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** ˈflɪmzi
**IPA (UK):** ˈflɪmzi

## Meanings
1. weak, insubstantial, or easily damaged; unconvincing

## Examples
- His alibi rested on flimsy evidence.

## Synonyms
- fragile
- frail
- insubstantial
- weak
- feeble
- unconvincing
- rickety
- thin

## Antonyms
- sturdy
- robust
- solid
- substantial
- strong

## Derived Forms
- flimsily
- flimsiness

## Etymology
Of obscure origin, attested from the 18th century; possibly a metathesized alteration of film with the suffix -sy, suggesting something thin and film-like.

## AI Etymology
Flimsy is of obscure origin, attested from the 18th century; possibly a metathesized alteration of film with the suffix -sy, suggesting something thin and film-like. Morphologically, the word is a built form whose named elements carry part of the historical sense. Its deeper history remains uncertain, with proposed links left as possibilities rather than a single settled derivation. The current sense covers weak, insubstantial, or easily damaged; unconvincing. The wider family includes derived forms such as flimsily and flimsiness.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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flimsy

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