frivolous
Light and silly
Frivolous describes something lacking seriousness or importance.
A frivolous purchase wastes money on something unnecessary.
A frivolous lawsuit has no legal merit and shouldn't have been filed.
Frivolous behavior is silly and lighthearted when gravity is expected: Stop being frivolous—this is a serious matter.
The word carries judgment—what one person calls frivolous, another might call harmless fun.
Of little importance
- triflingOf no real importance
- inconsequentialLacking significance or impact
- insignificantLacking importance or consequence
- unimportantLacking significance or weight
negligible · paltry · piddling · minor · nugatory · picayune · footling · slight
Mildly windy, or nonchalant
- lightheartedCheerful and without worry
- blitheCheerfully indifferent
- nonchalantCalmly unconcerned
- insouciantCarefree and unconcerned
easygoing · unconcerned · untroubled · jaunty · buoyant · airy · relaxed · casual
Amusingly foolish or absurd
- zanyAmusingly absurd
- wackyAmusingly eccentric
- absurdWildly illogical
- ludicrousAbsurdly unreasonable or inappropriate
harebrained · ditzy · scatterbrained · foolish · ridiculous · nonsensical · preposterous · cockamamie
Superficially articulate
- facetiousHumorously inappropriate or glib
- cheekyPlayfully disrespectful
- irreverentDisrespectful toward authority
- tongue-in-cheekHumorously not meant literally
dismissive · offhand · breezy · cavalier · impertinent · saucy · pert · sarcastic
petty
Of little importance
- triflingOf no real importance
- inconsequentialLacking significance or impact
- insignificantLacking importance or consequence
unimportant · negligible · paltry · piddling · minor · nugatory · picayune · footling · slight · meaningless
breezy
Mildly windy, or nonchalant
- lightheartedCheerful and without worry
- blitheCheerfully indifferent
- nonchalantCalmly unconcerned
insouciant · easygoing · unconcerned · untroubled · jaunty · buoyant · airy · relaxed · casual · sprightly
goofy
Amusingly foolish or absurd
ludicrous · harebrained · ditzy · scatterbrained · foolish · ridiculous · nonsensical · preposterous · cockamamie · madcap
glib
Superficially articulate
- facetiousHumorously inappropriate or glib
- cheekyPlayfully disrespectful
- irreverentDisrespectful toward authority
tongue-in-cheek · dismissive · offhand · breezy · cavalier · impertinent · saucy · pert · sarcastic · smart-aleck
shallow
Without much depth
- skin-deepAffecting only the surface
- surfaceOutermost boundary layer
- cosmeticSurface-level appearance enhancer
veneer · facade · insubstantial · empty · vacuous · hollow · fluffy · lightweight · frothy · airy
whimsical
Playfully fanciful or erratic
- frolicsomeInclined to merriment
- merryCheerful and lively
- jovialCheerful and friendly
gleeful · effervescent · vivacious · bubbly · perky · animated · spirited · lively · impish · mischievous
- Insignificant thingstrivial, minor, small, tiny, negligible
- futilefutile, useless, pointless, fruitless, vain
- nonessentialunnecessary, unneeded, nonessential, inessential, dispensable
- prioritypriority, top priority, high priority, low-priority, first priority
- recklessreckless, careless, rash, heedless, imprudent
- whimsicalwhimsical, whimsy, fanciful, playful, quirky
frivolousserious
Weighty and requiring attention
significant · important · substantial · weighty · consequential
frivolousmeritorious
Deserving praise or honor
legitimate · well-founded · substantive · nonfrivolous · valid
- frivolous lawsuitGroundless court case
- frivolous litigationGroundless legal action