adj
flimsy
FLIHM-zee
adj
1
Easily broken or damaged; not sturdy.
"The umbrella was so flimsy it snapped in the first gust of wind."
2
Unconvincing or weak, especially describing an argument or excuse.
"The lawyer dismissed the alibi as a flimsy excuse."
How to Use Flimsy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThin and weak — either physically (flimsy material) or logically (a flimsy excuse).
Common pairings
flimsy excuse
flimsy material
flimsy evidence
Word Forms
flimsier comparative, more flimsy comparative, flimsied past tense, flimsies plural, flimsies singular, flimsiest superlative, most flimsy superlative
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The umbrella was so _____ it snapped in the first gust of wind.
Etymology
Origin uncertain; possibly related to flim-flam ("nonsense, trickery") or a reshuffling of film ("thin layer") with the suffix -sy.